What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This title can make it sound intimidating, but is helpful in describing exactly what EMDR aims to do.
EMDR is another model of therapy that typically utilizes rapid eye movements to desensitize distressing thoughts, emotions, body sensations and images that have been stored in the brain from past negative experiences. EMDR helps the brain to reprocess these negative events so they are no longer impacting our day-to-day lives.
The Eight Phases of EMDR Treatment
Phase One
In this phase, your therapist will gather pertinent information about you, your symptoms and discover negative events for reprocessing work.
In this phase, your therapist will guide you through a variety of calming and grounding exercises to decrease symptoms between sessions and increase coping mechanisms.
In this phase, your therapist will help “set the scene” for a memory to be reprocessed in the next phase.
In this phase, your therapist will utilize eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to guide you through the reprocessing of a negative event.
In this phase, your therapist will help you to replace the weed with a flower and install a positive cognition to replace the negative one that existed before.
Phase Six
In this phase, your therapist will help you to notice and eliminate any body sensations associated with the negative event.
Phase Seven
This this phase, your therapist will help guide you to a calm and grounded space to ensure you are ready to walk out of the office and into the rest of your day.
Phase Eight
In this phase, your therapist will help you to determine if further EMDR sessions are needed, or if you are ready to be discharged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EMDR More Expensive Than Traditional Therapy?
EMDR therapy is more cost effective overall, requiring fewer sessions than traditional therapy. While you may pay less over time with traditional therapy, most will pay that smaller amount over a longer period of time to get the same relief EMDR could provide in fewer sessions.
What Can I Expect After an EMDR Session?
After an EMDR session, there may be a strong sense of relief, a feeling of openness and healing. Many clients will continue to reprocess information for the following few days, sometimes leading to new insights, vivid dreams, or a resurgence of memories.
How Many Sessions Will I Need of EMDR?
Treatment can be very rapid with EMDR, however, the number of sessions will vary based on the complexity of the issues being dealt with and the length of the sessions. Relief from emotional distress often comes within the first few sessions as you work through the first two phases with your therapist.
Is EMDR Like Hypnosis?
Absolutely not! There are many differences between EMDR and hypnosis, but the notable differences are that you are awake and in control. There is no manipulation being done to your mind.
What’s Up With The Eye Movements Anyway?
The rapid eye movements utilized in EMDR therapy are quite familiar to your body, as you naturally engage in these eye movements every night when you sleep. EMDR aims to recreate the same movements we all have when we are in REM (rapid-eye-movement) sleep. However, there are multiple ways to create the bilateral stimulation needed for EMDR therapy.
Is EMDR For Everyone?
While EMDR can be helpful for a wide variety of different mental health issues or general life challenges, as with any therapy modality there must be careful consideration of who would benefit. Talk with your therapist about whether EMDR therapy might be a good fit for your needs!