Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
EMDR
Founded in 1989 by Francine Shapiro, EMDR has proven to be an effective psychotherapy treatment in alleviating the symptoms related to difficult life experiences.
EMDR works by facilitating the processing of traumatic memories through a structured approach that integrates bilateral stimulation to challenge the working memory. Bilateral stimulation can include guided eye movements, tapping, or other methods, and is combined with cognitive and emotional processing to reprocess difficult life experiences.
How does it work?
EMDR is a process that involves the following steps. Each individual is unique and will move through these steps at their own pace as they feel ready. Some memories will take longer to process than others as there is no specific timeline for healing.
What To Expect:
Accessing Traumatic Memories: During sessions, clients are guided to focus on specific distressing memories. This helps bring those memories to the forefront of their consciousness.
Bilateral Stimulation: While recalling the traumatic event, clients engage in bilateral stimulation. This can involve following the therapist’s finger with their eyes or using other methods like tapping or auditory tones. This stimulation is thought to mimic the processes that occur during REM sleep, which is associated with memory processing.
Desensitization: The combination of recalling the memory and bilateral stimulation helps to desensitize the emotional intensity linked to the trauma. This can lead to a reduction in anxiety and distress associated with the memory.
Reprocessing: As clients revisit the traumatic memories, they begin to reprocess the information, allowing for new associations to form. This can lead to the integration of the memory into a broader, more adaptive context.
Changing Negative Beliefs: Through the installation phase, clients work to replace negative beliefs tied to the trauma (e.g., “I am helpless”) with positive beliefs (e.g., “I am strong”). Bilateral stimulation helps reinforce these positive beliefs.
Physical Awareness: The body scan phase helps clients notice any residual tension or discomfort linked to the memory. This awareness allows for further processing and release of physical manifestations of trauma.
Integration: Over time, clients learn to view their traumatic experiences in a new light, leading to a decrease in emotional distress and an increase in emotional resilience.