EMDR: Rewriting Your Past, Reclaiming Your Future!

What is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy. EMDR is a therapeutic modality used to treat unresolved trauma. EMDR was founded by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987. EMDR utilizes an adaptive information processing model that involves the body’s natural information-handling system to treat trauma and adverse life experiences.

EMDR therapy uses the brain’s natural processing system, which manages and stores new information. However, information processing is interrupted when a person experiences a traumatic event, such as a car accident, assault, abuse, natural disaster, or other distressing event. When trauma occurs, the brain becomes overloaded, and it cannot process the trauma. As a result, the trauma remains unprocessed and stored in isolation in the limbic system (the emotional center of the brain). As the limbic system is separated from the brain’s neocortex, where executive functioning happens, these unhealed memories may cause maladaptive processes. When a person experiences a high level of disturbance with a traumatic event, new experiences may trigger these dysfunctional memory networks, causing a negative affect and/or sensations and reinforcing the original memory.

How does EMDR work?

EMDR therapy involves processing emotionally disturbing material through dual attention (or bilateral stimulation). Dual attention consists of the client engaging in an external stimulus, such as following the therapist’s hand movements or a moving light, listening to audio stimulation, or tapping on their shoulders or legs. This reprocessing phase mimics the natural information processing that occurs during REM sleep.
EMDR can be used to treat the following:

* Anxiety / Panic Attacks
* Depression
* Grief/LOss
* Phobias
* Trauma/ PTSD
* Substance Use Disorders

What is the process for EMDR?

The EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) sequence contains eight phases.
Phase 1: Client history and treatment planning
This stage includes thematic history taking, case conceptualization, and treatment planning. Clinicians will also assess the client’s suitability for EMDR therapy.
Phase 2: Preparation
This phase focuses on resource building, stabilization, EMDR process orientation, answering questions, and explaining different types of bilateral stimulation. This stage also includes assessing the appropriateness of continuing with EMDR therapy.
Phase 3: Assessment
This phase involves conceptualizing the target sequence—the negative memory or event and thoughts and emotions experienced—for reprocessing.
Phase 4: Desensitization
This is the reprocessing stage in which the clinician applies bilateral stimulation to the target sequence to move the disturbance to an adaptive resolution.
Phase 5: Installation
Once a client has arrived at a positive cognition and other appropriate measures, the clinician uses bilateral stimulation to install or link the positive beliefs to the traumatic event or memory.
Phase 6: Body scan
This involves checking in with the client’s body to see if any shifts have occurred due to phases 4 and 5. If the client reports adaptive responses, the therapist continues to phase 7. If not, the process is repeated.
Phase 7: Closure
This involves grounding procedures to close a session or targeting sequence.
Phase 8: Reevaluation
The goal of this phase is to ensure that the target memories, current triggers, and future templates are fully processed. If this stage reveals unprocessed memories, specific guidelines are provided to re-engage the targets for continued processing. Reevaluation of the targeting sequence also occurs at the conclusion of EMDR therapy treatment.
Some individuals may experience temporary side effects like fatigue or headaches during EMDR treatment.

EMDR therapy can be a journey of intense self-discovery and emotional processing, but it can lead to profound and lasting transformation, freeing you from the grip of the past and allowing you to fully embrace the present and future.

Our clinician, Brielle utilizes the lightbar and tappers for EMDR. If you have a seizure disorder and/or are sensitive to light, talk to Brielle about alternative options for you!

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