Home » An informed guide to EMDR
Developed by psychologist Dr Francine Shapiro, EMDR is a scientific and evidence-based therapy known to be effective in resolving PTSD, traumatic memories, phobias, panic attacks, anxiety disorders, stress, sexual, physical abuse, and other negative experiences and negative thoughts.
EMDR involves recalling a stressful past event and “reprogramming” the memory with a positive, self-chosen belief, while using bilateral stimulation through rapid eye movements, tactile and auditory tones to facilitate the process.
In the case of any negative, distressing or traumatic experiences, the attached emotions, memories, body sensations, thoughts, and beliefs that are overflowing are not channelled or stored in an appropriate manner. EMDR helps address these incidents and remove the block, so that the brain can process and make sense of experiences in a healthy way. Removing blocks essentially helps the brain to tap into its own ability to heal itself.
During therapy, you are asked to think or talk about memories, triggers, and painful emotions while simultaneously focusing on your therapist’s moving finger or light bar (if virtual) or another form of bilateral stimuli. This enables you to access positive ways of reframing the original experience/trauma (reprocessing) and to release the body’s tired negative emotional charges around it (desensitisation). Some experts have noted that the eye movements involved in EMDR might be similar to what occurs naturally during dreaming or REM sleep. It may be thought of as a physiologically-based therapy that allows a person to see the material in a new and less distressing way. Others believe it reactivates parts of the brain that were ‘shut down’ as a coping mechanism. In this way cognitive reorganising takes place, allowing the negative, painful emotions to give way to more resolved, empowered feelings.
Phase 1: History taking phase: Getting a history
Phase 2: Preparation: Preparing a person for the trauma work through building coping skills (resource building or stabilization).
Phase 3: Assessment: Determining the specific components of the first trauma that will be reprocessed
Phase 4: Desensitization
Phase 5: Installing a positive belief about the self when recalling the trauma
Phase 6: Body scan – Checking in with the body for any residual trauma
Phase 7: Closure Closing of the session
Phase 8: Reevaluation during the next session to see if any new information has come up or changes have happened between sessions
The duration of therapy per session is one hour. However, the pace that you are comfortable with is prioritized throughout the course of therapy. You are welcome to pause when you need a break or stop the session for that day if you feel the need to do so.
You are welcome to reprocess as many negative experiences as you wish in order to feel better. However, it is recommended that you go through the entire phase of the therapy so that you are prepared to handle similar situations in the future as well.
Every EMDR session is written out and documented. Documentation is a mandatory part of therapy. Sessions are not video or audio recorded unless otherwise specified.
EMDR treatment is facilitated by an accredited psychotherapist having EMDR Europe or EMDRIA-approved training.
In some cases, processing trauma or negative experiences may be too difficult initially because of age, life experiences, or complex trauma. In such cases, the ‘reverse protocol’ is used to reprocess starting with the future-present-past.