EMDR Psychotherapy: A Powerful Approach in the Treatment of Trauma
What EMDR Therapy is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is a integrative psychotherapeutic approach based on the idea that negative thoughts, feelings and behaviors are often the result of unprocessed, traumatic memories. Treatment involves standardized procedures where the therapist guides the client to focus on troubling images or memories, thoughts, emotions and body sensations while using induced movements of the eyes, audio tones or other bilateral stimulation. Accessing and processing of traumatic material in this way accelerates movement through the healing process.
How EMDR Therapy was developed In 1987, psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro made the chance observation that eye movements can reduce the intensity of disturbing thoughts under certain conditions. Dr. Shapiro studied this effect scientifically with a group of Vietnam veterans and victims of rape and incest, all who suffered from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She found the procedure reduced the frequency and intensity of their symptoms and the results held over time.
How it is used EMDR Therapy is used to treat troubling symptoms such as severe trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, guilt, problematic anger and grief. Post traumatic stress reactions such as disturbing and intrusive thoughts, nightmares and flashbacks can be effectively overcome with the use of EMDR Therapy, and can be extremely helpful for victims of rape and battery, childhood abuse and trauma, disasters, car crashes and violent crimes. It can also be used to enhance emotional resources such as confidence and self-esteem.
A typical session EMDR Therapy is different for everyone, because the healing process is guided from within. Sometimes past issues or memories come up, which are related to the current concern. A painful memory may bring up unpleasant emotions or body sensations, but this is normal and generally passes within a few minutes, as long as the EMDR processing is not stopped. The upsetting emotion or memory usually seems to fade into the past and lose its power.
Bringing up painful memories When painful memories are avoided, they keep their disturbing power. However, a flashback or nightmare can feel as upsetting and overwhelming, as the original experience. In EMDR Therapy, you can face the memory in a safe setting, so that you do not feel overwhelmed. During an EMDR processing session, the brain processes the traumatic information and stores it more adaptively to ones current life situation. The aim is to reduce distress and strengthen adaptive beliefs in relation to the traumatic events and experience. Afterwards, clients usually say that the distressing event FEELS like a memory, not longer causing one to feel upset – that it feels "over and in the past". You are in control It is hard to predict what kinds of thoughts, feelings, or memories might come up during an EMDR processing session. It depends upon each individual's natural healing process. The client is always in charge of whether to continue or stop. The client can also decide how much to tell the therapist about the experience. The therapist serves as a guide to help the client stay on track and get the most out of the session, and will encourage the client to continue through difficult parts.
Precautions Yes. It is very important that the therapist be formally trained in EMDR Therapy. Otherwise, there is a risk that EMDR processing would be incomplete, ineffective, or even harmful.
Preparing for the first EMDR processing session Make sure that if you are a contact lens wearer, that you either wear glasses to the session, or be prepared to remove them, as the eye movements can cause the eyes to dry and become uncomfortable. It is also recommended that you try to plan to have some time after the session to relax and ideally take a nap. This seems to help many people enhance the processing that took place during the session, and often it is reported that the sleep is very deep and relaxing.
After the session The client may continue to process the material for days or even weeks after the session, perhaps having new insights, vivid dreams, strong feelings, or memory recall. This may feel confusing, but it is just a continuation of the healing process, and should simply be reported to the therapist at the next session. (If, however, you become concerned or depressed, you should call your therapist immediately.) When the distressing symptoms are eliminated, the client can work with the therapist on developing new skills and ways of coping.
Finding an therapist who is trained in EMDR Therapy: Mary Kay Neumann received her Level II EMDR Training in 1994, and has been certified by the EMDR Institute. You may contact her at 608.255.4747.
