EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)- What is it?

Written By Inderveer Chonk

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that is designed to alleviate the emotional distress associated with traumatic memories (Shapiro, 1989a, 1989b)

 

What is EMDR?

Founded by Francine Shapiro(1987) EMDR can be seen as a form of emotional surgery to heal emotional wounds. It is an intriguing type of therapy that does not take the form of traditional talk-therapy. Needless to say, there still remains a very strong emotional therapeutic connection. EMDR has challenged the old dated notion that one requires a ‘long time to heal’. This type of therapy in fact shows the minds capabilities to heal from psychological trauma.

EMDR is a well-researched and structured model that works on memories, body sensations, core-self beliefs, and emotions to eliminate the residential emotional, somatic, and cognitive remnants of painful past experiences.  

How does it work?

Our mind generally has a natural and healthy adaptive way to cope through life and stressors. However, significant stress or trauma experiences can overwhelm and impact an individual immensely, causing heightened distress. During this time, the way the information is processed during this experience is fragmented, causing distorted thoughts, images, sensations, and/ or perceptual changes on a day-to-day basis (Shapiro, 2007). Consequently, one can be living in constant anxiety/fear, re-experiencing and living these exact traumatic experiences daily.

EMDR works by accessing & targeting specific traumatic emotional states/images. By stimulating the left & right side of the brain, processing is enhanced with new associations. This allows for psychological healing from unhealed and unprocessed memories. Once this block is removed, the mind can then talk through this content without emotional distress and develop new cognitive insights

What EMDR can help with:

·        Trauma:

·        PTSD:

·        Anxiety: 

·        Depression:

·        Phobias:

·        Grief and Loss:. 

·        Other Mental Health Concerns:

 

There are 8 stages to EMDR

Phase 1: This is history taking. The therapist will assess the client’s readiness and develop a treatment plan. The Therapist will explore to identify client’s possible target memories for EMDR

Phase 2: Preparation: The therapist may teach the client a variety of imagery and stress reduction techniques that the client can use during and between sessions. An introduction to the process of eye movement bilateral stimulation will take place.

Phase 3-6:  This will involve exploring cognitive beliefs, desensitization- the re-processing of unhealed memories, and installation of new beliefs. Once processed and subjective units of distress measures have reduced, we will move on to body scanning to strengthen the new positive feelings

Phase 7- Closure – This process will involve a visual ‘ Light stream exercise’

Phase 8- Re-Evaluation- Examining the overall progress made so far.

Inderveer Chonk
Next

Clinical Hypnosis & Benefits