What is EMDR?

EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a form of trauma therapy that uses the brain’s natural problem-solving function to actively reprocess trauma in sessions.  When we experience traumatic events (big T and little t), sometimes our brain becomes overwhelmed and is unable to appropriately process the experience. Sometimes this can lead to our brain getting stuck in unhealthy associations of emotions and events which can cause us to get triggered and move into fight or flight. In these moments, our brain is thinking there is a threat when in reality there isn’t. What EMDR helps us do is reprocess the memories and associations so we can function without being triggered.

What does EMDR look like?

EMDR uses bilateral dual attention stimulation (BLDAS) to put the brain into a working state of problem-solving which also occurs naturally when we are sleeping, specifically when we are in REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep (hence, the need for a bilateral feature such as eye movements). BLDAS can look like eye movements following a light bar or your therapist’s hand. It can also look like tapping, either by yourself or your therapist. In newer forms of EMDR, walking, throwing a ball back and forth, using hand buzzers, or sound can also be implemented. Once BLDAS is established, a plan is made that encompasses the targets or memories associated with a particular negative belief you have about yourself that is getting in the way of normal processing. The therapist uses this plan to guide the processing and will alternate between BLDAS and checking in with your belief system, level of disturbance, and how true your positive or adaptive belief feels as your brain reprocesses.

This form of therapy does not involve external processing, and in fact, very little talking is actually needed for it to be effective. The hardest thing about EMDR is being able to “trust the process” and let your brain do it’s thing to rewire associations that are no longer serving you.  

Like all therapy, things will likely get worse before better with EMDR and it’s important that you have numerous coping and emotional regulation skills before starting reprocessing as a way of regulating within sessions and in between session when your brain is still processing.

Who can do EMDR?

Most people can benefit from EMDR but there are some things that make people inappropriate for the treatment. These are things we will talk about when determining if EMDR is a good fit for you.

How many sessions do you need for EMDR to work?

Like all therapy, it depends. For most adults, it can take several sessions to get through one target as the neural network is much more intertwined through life experiences. For children and adolescents, EMDR works more quickly due to the less intensive neural networks. When working with me, you can plan for several weeks to be focused on coping and emotional regulation skills before any reprocessing begins.

Where can I learn more about EMDR?

The EMDRIA website is the best resource for all things EMDR. To visit their website click here!