EMDR Therapy

What is EMDR Therapy and how does it work?

EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an extensively researched and effective psychotherapy that provides healing and hope to people recovering from adverse life experiences. It consists of eight various phases of treatment that systematically address present, past, and future fears and goals. EMDR therapy is a mental health intervention and as such, is properly executed by trained and licensed mental health clinicians.

EMDR therapists utilize various forms of dual attention stimuli – bilateral eye movements, physical tapping, or auditory tones in a set of headphones. They also employ different types of equipment in performing EMDR Therapy. Your clinician may simply use their hand for eye movement, thera-tappers, light bars, or impromptu objects in the room (e.g., a pen, drum sticks, a foam ball, etc.)

After the behavioral health specialist and client agree that EMDR therapy would be a good addendum to the overall treatment plan, the client will be asked to focus on a specific event.

The client is asked to describe the most disturbing portion of the event; identify the negative beliefs attached to the images, and describe the associated body sensation and emotions. The client will then be asked what they would ideally like to believe about themselves when the event is brought back up into their memory.

While the client focuses on the upsetting event, the therapist will ask the client to observe the clinician providing a set of side-to-side eye movements. Sometimes clinicians opt to utilize bilateral tones via headphones or physical tapping right to left. The client will be guided to notice what they are experiencing in their mind, body, and/or emotional state from moment to moment; like they are watching scenery outside of a train window. The clinician will check in with the client periodically during the session to determine what they are experiencing. The client has permission to stop the therapist at any point if needed. The sets of bilateral stimulation are repeated until the event becomes less and less disturbing.

Who can benefit from EMDR therapy?
EMDR therapy helps children and adults of all ages. Therapists use EMDR therapy to address a wide range of challenges including but not limited to PTSD, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, attachment disorders, addiction, grief, performance anxiety, etc.