Trauma Therapy + EMDR
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for treating trauma. When one experiences trauma, it can cause the brain’s information-processing system to become blocked, which means the brain cannot resolve the trauma on its own. EMDR helps remove this block, which allows the brain and body to heal.
EMDR uses structured protocols and procedures that include bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, etc.) that help desensitize disturbing traumatic materials and promote emotional transformation. For example, a survivor of abuse can shift from feeling fear and worthlessness to holding the firm belief and embodied feeling that “I am safe and worthy of love.”
EMDR therapy includes a set of standardized protocols incorporating elements from many different treatment approaches that will help you heal triggers from disturbing memories, negative core beliefs, and uncomfortable body sensations resulting from trauma.
The theory behind EMDR is that “symptoms” are caused by unprocessed memories. When a disturbing event occurs, it can get trapped in the brain and body with the original images, thoughts, feelings, and sensations. EMDR stimulates this bodily information and allows the brain to reprocess the experience through rapid eye movements (or tones or tactile stimulation), which results in healing. During EMDR, you will be in control, and your therapist will help you discover a pace that feels good for your nervous system. During and after EMDR reprocessing, individuals report feeling a new sense of empowerment, freedom, and ease.
Benefits and Evidence Base
PTSD symptom reduction and/or loss of PTSD diagnosis
Reduction in anxiety
Reduction in depression
Reduction in OCD symptoms
Reduction in chronic pain and chronic illness
Reduction in performance anxiety
Reduction in phobias
Improvement in those struggling with addiction
EMDR therapy has even been superior to Prozac in trauma treatment (Van der Kolk et al., 2007). Shapiro and Forrest (2016) share that more than 7 million people have been treated successfully by 110,000 therapists in 130 countries since 2016. ~EMDRIA.org
Furthermore, EMDR is endorsed by SAMSHA (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.
To learn more about the evidence base for EMDR, please visit EMDRIA.org.
How is EMDR different from other therapies?
EMDR does not require discussing disturbing or distressing issues, memories, or material in detail. EMDR allows the brain to resume its natural healing processes rather than focusing on the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors resulting from the trauma. EMDR has also been shown to take fewer sessions than other psychotherapies.
EMDR Clinicians have different specialties, so it is essential to ensure your EMDR therapist specializes in the areas you struggle with. While all EMDR therapists treat single-incident trauma, not all may specialize in addiction, attachment concerns, or dissociation. Your EMDR therapist will conduct an in-depth assessment with you to explore the appropriateness of EMDR so you can feel confident in your treatment.
Who is a good candidate for EMDR?
As with all trauma therapies, an individual should complete the Safety and Stability (link to safety and stability information) phase of trauma therapy before moving forward to processing. Those who are good candidates for EMDR processing would be looking for help with:
Abuse
Anxiety, panic attacks, and/or phobias
Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain
Depression and Bipolar Disorder
Dissociative Disorders
Disordered Eating and Body Image
Grief and Loss
Performance Anxiety
Personality Disorders
PTSD
Sexual Assault
Sleep Disturbance
Substance Abuse and Addiction
Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Violence
First responders and other workers exposed to vicarious trauma
Who is not a good candidate for EMDR?
EMDR requires the individual to tolerate a certain level of anxiety and stress. If you tend to shut down or dissociate when you feel intense emotions, EMDR may not be effective.
Those who may not be a good candidate for EMDR:
Someone who is looking for a “quick fix” or a “magic pill” for healing
Someone who is not fully committed to therapy
Someone who recently had a mental health crisis and was in in-patient therapy
EMDR is not suitable for those struggling with hallucinations or delusions
EMDR is also not safe for women in their first trimester of pregnancy
Those who are actively abusing drugs or alcohol
Someone who has not completed the safety and stability phase of trauma therapy
Those who may have secondary gain concerns such as legal cases claiming damages. These issues call for further exploration and resolution before EMDR.
Additionally, some people with complex PTSD who have experienced being chronically dysregulated have not found EMDR helpful. These people have found other trauma therapies, such as IFS, somatic therapies, and psychedelic-assisted therapies, beneficial in healing (add links to other types of therapy). Again, proper assessment with an EMDR clinician will provide you with the best information if this modality will benefit you.