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EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a unique type of therapy that helps with processing trauma. It is different from other types of therapy in that it is quite structured, doesn’t require a lot of talking, and uses bilateral stimulation to facilitate processing.
This post will explain a little more in depth what EMDR looks like and what to expect.
What is EMDR?
EMDR is an 8 stage therapeutic modality that targets painful memories and beliefs. It uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, buzzers, etc.) to help the brain problem-solve and process the trauma. The bilateral stimulation replicates what happens during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is where we process our day.
What actually happens in an EMDR session?
Before the actual EMDR processing starts, there is prep work and planning that needs to happen first. This includes teaching specific grounding skills, as these can be helpful if difficult emotions come up during or after processing, or between sessions. It also includes planning out what will be processed - we work together to select specific memories and beliefs that feel like they would be most important to work on. This prep work and planning usually takes a session or two to complete.
Once the plan is in place and you have some good grounding skills, we will select a memory from the plan to begin processing. I will start by asking some questions to bring about certain parts of the memory, and take some baseline measurements around how you feel about it. Then we will move into processing.
For processing, I normally use buzzers - it is an electronic device with 2 handheld buzzers that buzz back and forth. The bilateral stimulation will last for approximately 20 seconds, during which time you can let your mind free-associate or daydream - you don’t need to make anything particular happen because your brain is doing the work. Once the 20s is up, I will stop the buzzing and check in with what you noticed. We will then repeat this cycle over and over again, letting your brain naturally process the incident.
The impact of the processing will be different for everyone, but generally there is often an experience of gaining new insights and reducing distress.
If there is time, we will do a few other things, including a body scan to ensure any remaining distress is cleared from the body, and installation of positive beliefs. I won’t go into detail about those here, but they can help to solidify the insights and experience.
We will then close our time, with the option of using a grounding skill if needed. The next session, we will check in about the processing and continue processing if needed, or pick another
Who is it good for?
EMDR is good for folks who have experienced trauma or who have PTSD, and can also be used for anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, eating disorders, OCD and more.
It can be a fairly intense therapy, so it is important that there is some stability and safety in your life before starting EMDR. This may include having a safe living situation, not being actively suicidal or self-harming, not being in active addiction, having social supports, and so on. We will discuss together whether EMDR will be appropriate for you, and if it is not appropriate at this time, we can explore what work may need to be done to prepare you for EMDR.
Why I like using EMDR
I like using EMDR because… it works! Not for everyone and not all the time, but time and time again I see shifts in people because of EMDR. Sometimes with talk therapy we can talk ourselves in circles (which is especially unhelpful in the case of trauma), and EMDR offers a clear path for processing difficult experiences. I find I tend to lean into modalities that offer more than just talk - EMDR being one of them, but also somatic therapy and art therapy. Ultimately, my goal is to bring whatever tools I can that will help my clients heal - and EMDR is definitely one of those tools.
If you are interested in learning more about EMDR, please feel free to reach out to me by email (charlotte@relateandrestore.ca) or book a 20 minute consultation here.