What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a thorough psychotherapy method designed to help you process and heal from past experiences impacting your mental health and wellbeing. This therapy combines side-to-side eye movements with structured talk therapy. EMDR assists in processing negative images, emotions, beliefs, and physical sensations tied to traumatic memories that feel stuck, which can lead to various mental health issues.
EMDR enables you to view these memories from a new perspective, alleviating the symptoms you were experiencing. It can lead to a significant transformation, shifting from being constantly haunted by a traumatic memory and its negative effects to feeling as though it is no longer significant. EMDR essentially jumpstarts your natural healing and recovery process after trauma, with your therapist supporting you throughout your journey to heal from within.
EMDR Therapy and Trauma
What can EMDR help with?
EMDR was initially developed and is most renowned for treating trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is recognized by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as an effective treatment for PTSD.
However, EMDR can also address a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, addictions, behavioral difficulties, relationship problems, to name but a few. Many of these issues may stem from some form of trauma, whether it involves being bullied, criticised, or abused during childhood or adulthood, even if this connection is not immediately apparent.
How does EMDR work?
EMDR follows a structured approach, with the therapist guiding you through several stages. These stages include assessing your current symptoms and readiness for EMDR, as well as understanding how your past experiences have shaped your present. The therapist will explain why you are experiencing your current symptoms and how trauma affects the mind, making it feel like it will never go away.
One of the initial stages involves understanding how you have reached this point and what events have contributed to your current state. The therapist will identify patterns created by past events and determine which traumatic memories need to be processed for recovery. Preparing clients for the processing of traumatic memories is crucial, as EMDR can be a powerful therapy, and ensuring client safety is paramount.
The next phase involves accessing the traumatic memories and initiating bilateral stimulation. This process stimulates either side of your brain in an alternating left-right fashion to help you access your subconscious mind and process stored memories and their effects. Bilateral stimulation can be achieved through side-to-side eye movements, whilst holding alternating flashing pulsers, or tapping either side of your body.
The eye movements in EMDR may resemble those that occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which happens as we dream. This method allows us to reprocess emotionally charged memories. The dual-attention focus keeps clients grounded in the present while also revisiting the past. Your therapist helps initiate your natural healing process, replacing negative or traumatic images and memories. This enables you to view them differently, so they no longer cause distress.
Someone can tell you that your negative belief about yourself is not true, but you need to know that for yourself. With EMDR, the change in perspective comes from within, and the transformative change feels true at a gut level. There can be a remarkable shift in how people feel, from terror or shame to calmness and empowerment. Some people may experience significant improvements after around six sessions of EMDR therapy, though those with more complex issues might require additional sessions.
EMDR in Your Brain
Online EDMR Therapy
Having online EMDR therapy can be just as effective as doing it in person. You can have therapy from the comfort and safety of familiar surroundings, which can be particularly helpful when you are processing trauma.
