What is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.

Yes, a mouthful for an approach requiring very little talking!

I continue to be amazed by the success many people achieve with EMDR. I became determined to become an EMDR therapist when I saw that EMDR brought changes that talk alone did not. Something happens!

There are different ways to help break through traumatic memories. Talk can be helpful as are other activities like sandtray, art, or writing. As the memory is seen from different perspectives, understanding grows and emotions become more manageable. The idea is to relate to a memory over time in new ways which removes some of its power. EMDR is different in that it requires little talking. I often don’t know any of the details clients are working through.

Memories come in packages, so to speak, with emotions, images, sensations, and beliefs bundled together. All or any of these can get stirred up with triggers causing us to feel stuck. EMDR focuses on all of these, emotions, images, sensations and beliefs and can help you move through them.

More about EMDR

  • How does EMDR work?

    It may sound strange at first so I usually slowly introduce the idea to clients, often after a few sessions. So don’t let the novelty turn you away!

    EMDR integrates elements of several therapies: somatic (body-centered), cognitive behavioral (thoughts), parts work, experiential, interpersonal, and psychodynamic to reinforce the effects.

    The EMDR approach has changed since it was created in the 1980’. From a more structured and strict protocol, EMDR has involved to embrace newer understanding about culture and attachment needs.

  • What does an EMDR session looks like?

    There is a natural progression until we get to the actual processing work. We first pinpoint together what the troubling theme is, also the beliefs associated with this theme.  For example, “I am in danger”, or “I am not valuable”. Then, to become familiar with EMDR, we move to a few little experiences with it, focusing on pleasant and empowering mental images or words.

    EMDR involves using sensory stimulation on both sides of the brain and body to help process trauma. whether it is done with eye movements, sounds, or tactile tappers. You get to try the system and choose what feels the best. Many like all three modalities, sound, lights, and tappers to feel fully immersed in the experience. Others might prefer less and just close their eyes as they hold the little vibrating tappers in their hands. You are in charge and I always remind you that you “can stop me at anytime”.

  • What equipment is necessary?

    While fancy electronic equipment can be used, simply tracking a therapist’s moving fingers or even a toy like a ball or a slinky for a child or teen is effective. It’s about bilateral (both sides) movement.  The idea is that the back-and-forth eye movements combined with consciously recalling the traumatic event reduce the emotional impact of the memory.

  • Is it well researched?

    EMDR is well supported by research.

    Endorsed as a choice therapy by:

    WHO- The World Health Organization (WHO)

    VA- Us Dept of veterans affairs

    APA- American psychological association

    SMHSA- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services administration

    ISTSS- International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

  • What about using EMDR for learning?

    You may ask if learning from an event is affected since the emotion diminishes. Yes, learning is retained with EMDR. We aren’t completely forgetting but the memory tends to lose its intensity, its gripping power, while we do learn from the event. It is poorly processed memories that make us feel stuck. EMDR makes us process them.

  • What about science and EMDR

    While research has shown that EMDR does work, it is not just a placebo effect, the workings of the brain are still poorly understood. They are still speculating about the exact process in the brain. One thing is known, it is that that side to side eye movements occur in sleep, in the slow wave sleep like REM sleep, and this phase of sleep plays a role in integrating memories.

    Some studies used EEG’s to measure brain activity before, during, and after EMDR. They write (better than I would!):

    “The findings suggest that traumatic events are processed at cognitive level following successful EMDR therapy, thus supporting the evidence of distinct neurobiological patterns of brain activations during BS associated with a significant relief from negative emotional experiences”.

    If you’re interested in further exploration about this topic, I am attaching a few links:

    https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321005792_A_hypothetical_mechanism_of_action_of_EMDR_The_role_of_slow_wave_sleep

    Pagani, M., & Carletto, S. (2017). A hypothetical mechanism of action of EMDR: The role of slow wave sleep. Clinical Neuropsychiatry: Journal of Treatment Evaluation, 14(5), 301–305.

    van den Hout MA, Engelhard IM. How does EMDR work? J. Exp. Psychopathol. 2012;3(5):724-738.

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3458957/

    Pagani, M., Di Lorenzo, G., Verardo, A.R., Nicolais, G., Monaco, L., Laurette, G., russo, R., Niolo, C., Ammaniti, M., Fernandez, I., & Siracusano, A. (2012). Neurobiological correlates of EMDR monitoring-an EEG study.Plos one, 7(9), e45753.