What to Know About Starting EMDR Therapy
As an EMDR trained therapist, I have worked with many people in understanding exactly what it is and what it can do for you.
EMDR therapy is Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy and is defined by EMDR International Association as, “a structured therapy that encourages the patient to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories” (EMDRIA, 2023). These are the important things to understand about EMDR if you are considering starting this type of therapy.
What is EMDR and how does it work?
EMDR is an 8-phase therapy protocol that includes client history and treatment planning, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and re-evaluation (Shapiro, 2018). The idea behind EMDR is it is mimicking our body’s natural healing process in order to get ‘unstuck’ from disturbing experiences that are causing current day stressors or symptoms. The role of bilateral stimulation is the mechanism that mimics our natural healing. We know this because this is what our body naturally does in REM sleep, our eyes are going side to side during this part of sleep, in processing all the information that our brain is taking in every day (Shapiro, 2018).
What to expect in EMDR therapy
A person can generally expect a preparation phase in which the client and clinician build emotion regulation, talk about stressors and what issue you want to target, explore your personal nervous system and build resources. Resourcing in EMDR is introduced prior to desensitization to support skills in feeling safe enough to feel all our uncomfortable emotions, emotion identification, and working past uncomfortable emotions to build resilience (EMDRIA, 2023). In desensitization with bilateral stimulation, it is quite common for people to experience intense imagery, physical body sensations, and new thoughts and emotions. Know that this can be difficult and overwhelming for anyone, but you remain in control the whole time and can request breaks or utilize your skills learned in the preparation phase. One thing to remember throughout EMDR treatment is that there is no way to do it wrong. Your job as a client is to notice any shifts in thoughts, emotions, images, or body sensations and the clinician’s job is to help guide you in moving through those shifts. If you want more information on what else to expect in EMDR treatment, explore the EMDR International Association website to find reliable resources and information.
How is it different than other talk therapies?
EMDR can be different than most talk therapies, especially in the desensitization phase. In the desensitization phase, we introduce the bilateral stimulation in the forms of tapping, eye movements, auditory, or tactile buzzers while targeting a traumatic memory, symptom, distress, relationship issues, and more. One thing that many clients notice in the desensitization phase is that there is much less talking and dialogue between the clinician and client. This looks like the client being guided by the clinician in desensitizing a certain target with bilateral stimulation and then consistent check ins with one another in what the client is experiencing. These check ins are often brief due to trying to keep the client in the experience of desensitization, as talking a lot can often bring you out of it. Some other differences in EMDR is that there is no homework outside of session and it does not require consistently talking in great detail of a traumatic/distressing memory.
If you are considering beginning EMDR as part of your healing journey, it is highly recommended to talk to your therapist about this as an option, ask for more psychoeducation and information on EMDR and explore your own readiness.
Jamie Lingenfelter, MSW, SWLC
Resources
About EMDR therapy. EMDR International Association. (2023, December 1). https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/
Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). The Guilford Press.