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EMDR Therapy

Eye

Movement

Desensitization

& Reprocessing

Close-up of an eye

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing is also known as EMDR

What is EMDR?

According to the American Psychological Association:

(Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) EMDR Therapy

Is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to briefly focus on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotions associated with the disturbing memories.

American Psychological Association

EMDR takes the action of rapid eye movement that we have in dream sleep, known as REM (rapid eye movement) and has been brought into conscious waking hours where a client, with the help of the therapist, brings up a disturbing or traumatic memory and through the process listed below eye movments are used or other bilateral stimulation is used such as alternating tones, or alternating tactile stimulus.  This in turn allows the two hemispheres of the brain to be stimulated alternately that allows Accelerated Information Processing (AIP), this is where the brain relearns, reprocessing material in the brain to bring about a resolution.

Francine Shapiro (psychologist) developed EMDR therapy to be structured having 8 phases of treatment which facilitates a very systematic type of therapy providing good quality therapeutic results.  EMDR is a good sound therapy. More information can be found on emdria.org or emdrcanada.org.

What can EMDR Therapy be used for?

 EMDR therapy is used for numerous issues but is specfically known to help your brain reprocess that which has not been able to do so on its own.  The EMDR procedure was initially known for its effectiveness for alleviating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But, EMDR is now known to be used for a wide variety of applications and situations such as various anxities including: phobias,[] and test anxiety,[].  Also, EMDR has proven to be effective at times with dermatological disorders[] and pain management.[].  EMDR is used for both processing truama, integrating needed material for the brain, and life enhancemnt applications.  EMDR is also known to be effective and useful for  life enhancement or performance enhancement in such areas as: sports, writing, selling, public speaking and much more.  EMDR can be used for almost anything.

Addictions
Abuse
Affair Recovery
Anger Issues
Anxiety
Depression
Eating Disorders
Grief/Loss
Injuries
Panic Attacks
Phobias
Procrastination
PTSD
Sexual Abuse
Sleep Issues
Stress
Trauma
& More

What does EMDR Therapy look like?

History and Treatment Planning

In this phase personal and family history is explored, which can include developmental and attachemnt issues, as well as traumatic events that were either psychological and/or physcial .  Also, standard assessments may be used.  Through this information in alliance with the client therapeutic treatment goals are determined along with a target sequence plan.

Preparation

(1) It is in this phase that you will learn more about EMDR and other relevant psycho-educational pieces.  (2) your therapist will help you to develop:  emotional regulation skills, grounding skills, stress reduction skills, ego state change skills, safe-place and/or safe-state image. (3) You will be introduced to eye movement and other bilateral stimulation (BLS). 

Assessment

In this phase a target is determined in order to move into the next phase.  You will be asked to identify an image, a negative self-belief (cognition), a positive cognition that will empower you in regard to this event, you will be asked to rate your positive cognition and also rate how disturbing your target memory is from a scale of 0-10.  You will be asked to describe your emotions and what your experience is in your body.

Desensitization

The client is now supposed to focus on the previously selected target memory while doing back and forth eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation.  This process will continue with breaks, interweaves and other interventions until there is no longer any emotional distress and is neutral.

Installation

The negative cognition previously discovered is now replaced with the positive cognition previously chosen.  This positve cognition is installed using eye movement or BLS.  This is all checked using what is called a validity of cognition scale.  This continues until it has completely reached its highest level of strength.

Body Scan

The client is now asked to conscioulsy scan their body as they recall the target memory to find any body sensation, tensions or lingering stress.  If there is any stress or tension in the body then more  BLS is done.  This is repeated until the body is calm.

Closure

Closure is the step that is implemented upon the closing of the therapy session or the completion of the reprocessing of the targeted memory.  What this will look like all depends on whether the processing was complete or not.  There will be a final check on the client's emotional disposition, there may also be a time of stabilization which can include exercises like calm-place, Heart Coherence breathing or other forms of relaxation exercises.

Re-evaluation

The therapist re-evaluates the target to determine the stress levels.  If the last session did not complete the processing of the determined target then it is re-evaluated and the client begins at phase 4 again until the target memory is completed. If the client has completed the target memory previoulsy worked on then the re-evaluation takes the client to the beginning of the client's goals and targets for reprocessing.  Once a memory target is fully processed then a positive future template can be added to aid the client in new goals, new skills, mastery, and new identity (self-esteem).

Frequently asked questions about EMDR Therapy

What is EMDR Therapy?
How does EMDR therapy work?
What Does EMDR Therapy Look Like?
How Does EMDR Work In The Brain?
Does EMDR cure PTSD?
EMDR Therapy for Couples and Marriage Issues
Overview of EMDR Therapy

James MiklosWritten by: James A. Miklos, M.C.C., R.P. -   James has been counselling,  providing mental health therapy for over 30 years, is a public speaker and writer.

© 2019 James A. Miklos. All rights reserved.  To copy or quote any of this material this entire citation and credit must be posted.

Will EMDR Therapy help me?

Yes, EMDR has proven to be effective when issues are psychological in nature and not physiological.  Outcomes are positve but not guarnateed though much research has been conducted and EMDR has proven to be effective. Because EMDR is an integrative psychotherapy therefore it is flexible in its process which can be adaptive for various individuals and their specific issues and goals. When an individual is committed to the process, outcomes have proven to be positive .

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