EMDR Explained

What is EMDR?
EMDR is a form of therapy designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories.

To break down the name:
The E and the M stand for eye movement, but essentially it’s describing the therapy’s use of bilateral stimulation (BLS). BLS is the method of alternately stimulating both sides of the body and brain, through side-to-side eye movements, auditory tones, or tactile sensations such as holding vibrating beads or tapping oneself. Although eye movements are traditionally used, hence the name of the therapy, they aren’t the only form of BLS employed by EMDR therapists.

The D and the R describe the method’s desensitization to the traumatic memories and the reprocessing of events through the help of BLS.

If you are considering undergoing EMDR, this guide is for you. It can be daunting not knowing what to expect when pursuing treatment, hence we prepared this guide. Here is the complete process of EMDR, which typically unfolds over eight phases:

1. History and Treatment Planning
The course of treatment would begin with a thorough history-taking session where you and the therapist would identify specific targets for EMDR processing, such as traumatic memories or current difficult situations. The therapist would then develop a treatment plan tailored to you.

2. Preparation
The therapist would explain the EMDR process and help you develop resources for handling mental and emotional distress. This might include teaching relaxation techniques and other coping strategies.

3. Assessment
You would select an image representing the memory, a negative belief about yourself related to the memory, and a desired positive belief. These elements would be the focus during the EMDR sessions.

4. Desensitization
You would focus on the distressing memory while simultaneously engaging in that process of BLS we discussed earlier. This would help your brain process the traumatic memory more effectively.

5. Installation
The therapist would help you focus on the desired positive belief, strengthening it until it feels true, thereby replacing the negative belief associated with the memory and lessening its impact on you.

6. Body Scan
In the body scan phase, you would be asked to notice any physical sensations while thinking about the memory and the positive belief. Any residual tension or discomfort would be processed with BLS. Trauma is stored in the body as well as in the mind, so this processing works on a very deep level.

7. Closure
At the end of each session, the therapist would ensure that you feel stable before you leave. Techniques for self-care and stabilization between sessions would be provided to help you manage any lingering distress.

8. Re-evaluation
At the beginning of subsequent sessions, the therapist would assess your progress and determine if additional sessions are needed to address remaining distress or new memories.

A full course of EMDR treatment is generally six to eight weeks and may be somewhat difficult and demanding at times. However, reprocessing these memories reduces their emotional impact and helps individuals develop healthier beliefs about themselves and the world in the long term.