You've heard the name before. It's been mentioned in podcasts, TV shows, and by your friends. It's been talked about as more helpful than traditional therapy. But what is it exactly?
Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
It's a bit of a mouthful. EMDR stands for Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, because it's nearly exactly that: a way to desensitize distress and reprocess trauamtic events by using eye-movements, or other forms of bilateral stimulation (such as audio).
How is EMDR done?
1. History and Assessment: The EMDR therapist will gather information about your history, current symptoms, and identify specific memories or experiences that are causing distress.
2. Preparation: The EMDR therapist will work with you to develop coping strategies and relaxation techniques to ensure you are prepared to handle any emotional distress that may arise during the EMDR sessions.
3. Desensitization: You focus on a specific distressing memory while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, which can involve following the EMDR therapist's hand movements with your eyes, listening to sounds alternating between the left and right ear, or using tactile stimulation such as tapping.
4. Reprocessing: As you engage in bilateral stimulation, you are guided to notice any thoughts, feelings, or sensations that arise. The EMDR therapist helps you reprocess the memory by making new associations and connections, which can lead to a reduction in distress associated with the memory.
5. Installation: Positive beliefs and emotions are reinforced to replace negative beliefs associated with the distressing memory. Your brain drives the healing.
6. Body Scan: The EMDR therapist helps you notice any remaining tension or distress in the body and works to release it through further bilateral stimulation.
7. Closure: The session is completed by ensuring you feel stable and grounded before leaving. The EMDR therapist may provide additional coping strategies for you to use between sessions.
8. Reevaluation: In subsequent sessions, you and the EMDR therapist assess the progress made and determine if further processing is needed on the same memory or if new targets should be addressed.
How Does EMDR Help?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy offers a range of short-term and long-term benefits for individuals dealing with trauma and related conditions. Research has shown EMDR can help those struggling with a variety of symptoms, such as OCD, Eating Disorders, Depression, and Anxiety.
Even if you haven't experienced a big trauma, EMDR can target those tough memories from growing up that we didn't even know were still affecting us.
Short-Term Benefits of EMDR
1. Reduction in Trauma Symptoms: Many clients experience a rapid reduction in symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and distress related to traumatic memories. Clients also often report a reduction in intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and nightmares related to the trauma.
2. Improved Emotion Regulation: By processing traumatic memories, clients often become more resilient to stressors and triggers in the short term.
3. Faster Processing of Trauma: EMDR is known for its relatively quick effect in reducing trauma symptoms compared to some other therapies. Clients may notice improvements in a few sessions.
4. Enhanced Insight: EMDR can provide clients with new insights into their trauma and its effects on their current behaviors and emotions, often leading to a better understanding of their challenges and more self-awareness.
Long-Term Benefits of EMDR
1. Sustained Reduction in Symptoms: Research shows that the benefits of EMDR, such as reduced PTSD symptoms, often last long after the therapy has ended. Clients frequently experience sustained improvement in their mental health.
2. Improved Quality of Life: By processing traumatic memories that may have previously impacted behavior, clients often see significant improvements in their daily functioning, including better relationships, work performance, and overall life satisfaction. They may experience less avoidance of places or things that would have previously been triggering.
3. Increased Self-Esteem: EMDR can help clients reframe their self-beliefs and self-worth, often leading to improved self-esteem and a stronger sense of personal empowerment. Clients often report a greater sense of control and efficacy in managing their lives and future challenges.
4. Long Term Emotional Resilience: By processing and integrating traumatic memories, clients may develop greater emotional resilience and coping skills for handling future stressors and life challenges.
5. Faster Processing of Trauma: EMDR is known for its relatively quick effect in reducing trauma symptoms compared to some other therapies. Clients may notice improvements in a few sessions.
6. Improved Well-Being and Relationships: For many clients, improvements in trauma symptoms can also lead to reductions in other co-occurring issues such as depression and anxiety. Long-term benefits often include improved relationships and social functioning, as clients develop healthier ways of interacting and relating to others.
If you think EMDR therapy could be helpful to you, reach out today to learn more and schedule an initial consultation. I promise, it's worth it.
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