What is EMDR Therapy?
Today I am sharing with you the basics of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. By the end of this post you will have a sense of what EMDR is, who it is helpful for, and answer questions you might have about EMDR therapy.
There’s a lot to cover here, so let’s get started…
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
EMDR Therapy Common Questions!
Let’s start with talking about some of the most common questions I receive about EMDR therapy:
Q: “Isn’t EMDR therapy just for people who have suffered from abuse or something really bad happening to them?”
A: Nope! In fact, EMDR is helpful for many more things… Anxiety, depression, self-esteem. It is, however, well known as a trauma therapy.
Q: “Are you hypnotizing me?”
A: Although I find hypnotherapy to be pretty interesting, I am not a trained hypnotherapist. EMDR is not hypnotherapy. You are fully conscious, fully aware, and have complete control.
Q: “Are you going to shock me?”
A: Absolutely not. EMDR utilizes what is called bi-lateral stimulation to assist the process. This can be done through eye movements, tapping, audio, etc. I personally utilize what we call “tappers”. They are hand-held devices that vibrate in your hands. But no shocking, I promise! In fact, many people tell me the tappers are very relaxing to them.
Q: “Will I forget the memory?” / “Will my memory be erased?”
A: Nope, no erasing memories here. But what will happen is you will become desensitized. And you will reprocess the memory to be more helpful for you. For example, as you think about the memory, instead of thinking “I’m not good enough,” and having that yucky feeling in your stomach or the tightness in your chest, you might think of the memory and pair it with the feeling/thought of “I am deserving” and you will feel more relaxed and proud! (of course, this is just one hypothetical scenario. :))
Who benefits from EMDR therapy?
Short answer: Just about anyone and everyone can benefit from EMDR therapy!
Long answer:
EMDR therapy is a type of therapy that was initially created as a trauma therapy. Therefore, the belief was that EMDR is only helpful for those who have dealt with single-event traumas and/or those who have benefit from several adverse events.
HOWEVER, as time went on, it was found that EMDR is helpful for much, much more!
EMDR therapy is helpful for anxiety, depression, self-esteem, confidence, just to name a few.
The goal is to help you to reprocess events, to change core beliefs/fears from something maladaptive (harmful or not helpful) to something more adaptive (helpful).
Just as I mentioned above - we all tend to have a core fear of some sort…
“I’m not good enough.”
“I am unworthy.”
“I am not safe.”
“I cannot trust anyone.”
“I am not in control.”
“I can’t handle it.”
“I am worthless.”
“I am a disappointment.”
“I am not lovable.”
The list goes on, and on.
The problem is, if you operate from these fears often, then you are conditioning yourself to continue believing these things.
That doesn’t sound too helpful, and instead can be quite harmful to not only your relationships but also harmful to you, your self-worth, your self-esteem, etc.
This can lead to your depression getting worse. Your anxiety increasing significantly. Your self-esteem and confidence may begin to deplete. And then it becomes cyclical!
EMDR therapy helps to stop this cycle and start a more positive, helpful, more adaptive cycle for you!
Okay, So… We talked about questions, and we talked about who, but What IS EMDR really?"
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a type of specialized and specific therapy that should only be administered by a trained therapist. EMDR therapy helps you to resolve distress, find healing and peace, and helps you to change a maladaptive thought (or behavior) to a more adaptive and helpful thought (or behavior).
The EMDR therapist leads you through a process.
“For many clients, EMDR therapy can be completed in fewer sessions than other psychotherapies.”
I, personally as a EMDR trained clinician, approach it as providing you with tools to handle and deal with not only stressors related to what you bring up in therapy, but also daily stressors. Then, once you have the tools and you feel ready, then you will start what is called “reprocessing.”
During “reprocessing” you begin talking about an event that has contributed to stress in your life. And at that point, we are working on desensitizing the event for you.
“This process involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). While many times traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, they may not be processed without help.”
Let me give you a simplified example. Let’s say, you have been in a low-impact wreck, but every time you drive by the location of the wreck you start noticing your heartrate speed up, maybe you want to close your eyes, or maybe you want to avoid the spot altogether. We would then, work on, helping you to not be triggered by that location. Or the vehicle. Etc. You would become desensitized.
Of course, for some, EMDR is much better understood as they begin the process.
The main things you need to know is it is a therapy that has been proven to be effective, it helps to “rewire” your brain, and it can help with more than just trauma.
EMDR can help you heal and let your past stay in your past.
If you want to learn more about EMDR you can also gain additional information through: https://www.emdria.org or https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/
EMDR is a therapy that will help you to find freedom, peace, and comfort.
EMDR is helpful for a variety of challenges. Yes, it is known as a trauma therapy, but even if your main reason for attending therapy is for self-esteem, anxiety, depression, or something else - EMDR can help you, too!
If you have questions, click the button below. And remember - you can be provided with a FREE 15 minute phone consultation.
