What Is EMDR Therapy and What Is It Good For?

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, also known as EMDR therapy, is a relatively recent psychotherapy technique. The technique bypasses the traditional talk therapy and medication used to treat patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and focuses on using the patient’s own rapid eye movement to reduce trauma symptoms.

The technique was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro to help people with mental health disorders such as anxiety, panic attacks, and trauma. EMDR has been clinically validated by more than 30 studies and extensively researched. Studies have shown EMDR to be effective, especially for patients trying to process traumatic memories such as military combat, physical assault, sexual abuse, or childhood trauma.

So, what is EMDR therapy and how does it help? The goal of EMDR treatment is not to process negative emotions by talking about them, but to change the distressing emotions and thoughts around the memories. EMDR also targets the behaviors associated with the episodes of emotional trauma and allows your brain to heal.

In this article, we will explore:

How Can an EMDR Therapist Help with Trauma?

Individuals struggling with painful memories and traumatic experiences are often at risk of developing post-traumatic stress and other mental health issues, especially if they don’t access therapy to process their memories.

Overcoming disturbing memories and managing emotional distress is not as easy as choosing to forget about them and moving on. While we may think everything is well handled and our emotional wounds have healed through sheer willpower, a sound, a word, or a smell can easily trigger those distressing memories we’ve tried so hard to bury.

Unprocessed trauma memory can easily lead to panic attacks, general anxiety, PTSD, depression, and even painful issues in relationships. What we thought was buried deep in our unconscious mind can resurface when we least expect it, changing the way we engage with the world.

EMDR therapy is based on certain standardized protocols that allow patients to drain the emotional charge from their traumatic memories and the brain to process them in a natural way. In other words, EMDR psychotherapy helps you face unprocessed memories and takes away their power to impact your mental health and well-being.

How Does EMDR Work for PTSD and Other Mental Health Conditions?

The eye movement desensitization technique changes the way memories are stored in our brain through bilateral stimulation of our eyes (or hands). An EMDR therapist uses certain protocols to lead you through bilateral eye movements (side-to-side) as you recall your traumatic event. The eye movement technique allows your brain to relive the disturbing event in small, tolerable segments until the targeted memory carries no emotional charge, and you no longer associate it with a negative response.

The lateral eye movements encourage memory processing and set your brain on the path of healing. The goal of EMDR sessions is not to help you forget your negative experiences but to turn every negative memory into a processed and accepted memory with no emotional consequences for your brain.

The Eight Phases of EMDR Therapy

EMDR therapy involves as many sessions as are needed with an EMDR therapist, and it has eight phases:

1. Planning

The first phase in EMDR is establishing rapport with the client and assessing their emotional health. This involves getting to know the client and their history, as well as discussing any goals they may have for treatment. The therapist will try to assess their current emotional state and identify potential triggers in order to establish the best treatment plan.

2. Preparation

Preparation helps clients to prepare for the process ahead and become more grounded and stable. Clients are typically asked to keep a journal to track their progress and emotions and identify any disturbing event they have experienced that may still echo through their life. Client preparation can last anywhere from one session to a few months, depending on the individual’s needs.

3. Assessment

During the third phase of treatment, the therapist asks the client what they hope to achieve through therapy. The therapist will now work with the client to identify any distressing memories, negative beliefs, or trigger points that may be causing distress and create a list of targets that should be addressed in therapy. This list of painful memories brings focus to the EMDR therapy and helps the client make progress in how they manage their emotional memories. The assessment phase allows the therapist to determine if the treatment is appropriate for the client.

4. Desensitization

Desensitization marks the beginning of the client’s journey toward their emotional encounter with their distressing memories. The therapist uses various techniques, such as eye movement exercises, guided imagery, and relaxation training. The goal is to help the client reach a state of calm where they can begin to process their emotional stress without feeling overwhelmed. The client focuses on the target memory while making certain eye movements to reduce the emotional response associated with the memory. By emptying difficult memories of their emotional charge, the client finds it easier and less painful to cope with them. A negative memory left without any emotional significance reduces the impact of symptoms associated with trauma, such as anxiety and depression.

5. Installation

Installation is an important milestone for clients undergoing EMDR therapy. The therapist helps the client install the new positive beliefs and associations created during therapy, and the client learns to incorporate the positive aspects of EMDR into their life. During this phase, the client learns how to integrate more positive self-beliefs in order to reduce stress. The therapist will arm the client with the necessary perspectives to deal with challenging future events.

6. Body scan

The body scan phase is meant to help clients process the emotions they experienced during treatment. The client will be asked to focus on the body sensations that may arise during therapy. This can include physical sensations, emotions, or memories. By focusing on these sensations, clients can begin to understand how their experience has affected them physically and emotionally and find their way to a peaceful resolution.

7. Closure

During the closure phase of EMDR therapy, clients process and integrate the emotions and memories addressed during treatment. This phase usually lasts a few weeks, and clients may discuss their EMDR therapy experiences with friends and family. Closure is a crucial part of the healing process, and a support system during this time can prove to be essential for the client’s well-being.

8. Reevaluation

The reevaluation phase in EMDR is the process of evaluating the results of treatment and the effectiveness of EMDR therapy sessions. This includes reviewing the client’s symptoms, determining whether the treatment was effective, and making any necessary adjustments to the treatment plan. The reevaluation phase also helps to determine whether EMDR should be continued or discontinued. EMDR should only be continued if the client is experiencing positive results from treatment.

Is EMDR Therapy Effective?

Since EMDR therapy steps outside the comfort zone of some mental health professionals, some have doubted the technique’s effectiveness. However, studies have shown that this form of therapy is a highly effective treatment for patients suffering from:

• anxiety disorders
• depressive disorder
• posttraumatic stress disorder
• dissociative disorders
• bipolar disorders
• personality disorders
• eating disorders

Research shows that EMDR therapy sessions can help patients cope with stressful events more quickly and more effectively than trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and reduce somatic symptoms such as muscle tension or pain often associated with emotional trauma.

Despite its non-conventional approach to treating trauma and other mental health issues, EMDR therapy is common around the world. The Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense consider EMDR psychotherapy to be a best practice in treating veterans who are struggling with symptoms of PTSD. Furthermore, EMDR has been approved by the World Health Organization and governments of many countries, including the UK, Australia, and Germany.

When Should You Consider EMDR Therapy?

In EMDR therapy, the goal is to help clients face their unprocessed memories as spectators and stabilize their emotions. This can be achieved by addressing the root cause of the trauma and helping them process and heal from the disturbing experiences. The eye movement component of the therapy stimulates the brain and promotes healing, allowing clients to better understand and manage their emotions.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, and anxiety disorders can be treated using EMDR because they are often caused or exacerbated by distressing or intrusive memories. EMDR can help clients learn to be mindful of any triggers that may cause a relapse and take steps to avoid or cope with them.

However, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best time to try EMDR will vary depending on the individual. EMDR may be a good option for those who have not found relief from other psychological treatments or forms of therapy or who struggle to talk about their emotions. If you are considering EMDR, it is important to consult with a mental health professional to see if EMDR therapy is right for you.

Discover What’s Possible with EMDR

When people first hear about EMDR therapy, it can sound a little unusual. After all, it’s not your typical talk therapy. But the idea behind EMDR is actually quite intuitive: our brains have a natural way of healing from emotional wounds, just like our bodies recover from physical trauma. EMDR simply helps that process along.

As a therapist trained in the use of EMDR therapy, I’ve seen firsthand how this structured therapy that encourages the brain’s own healing mechanisms can transform lives. EMDR therapy focuses directly on the distressing memories and beliefs associated with the trauma, helping clients reprocess what happened in a way that no longer feels so charged or defining. 

Ready to start your own successful EMDR journey? Let’s bring your story into focus, release what no longer serves you, and make space for the new, liberating perspective.  Schedule a consultation!