EMDR Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy helps people heal from the symptoms and emotional distress resulting from disturbing life experiences.

EMDR therapy is recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as an effective treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, its applications extend beyond trauma to address various psychological challenges including anxiety, depression, phobias, and other distressing life events.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR works directly with the way the brain processes information, helping to release the grip of painful memories and experiences that may be causing ongoing distress. Through a structured eight-phase approach, EMDR therapy helps clients process difficult memories in a way that often leads to peaceful resolution.

I offer EMDR therapy because it is an evidence-based treatment that promotes healing and resilience. If you are thinking about starting EMDR therapy with me, get in touch.

What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy approach developed in the late 1980s by American psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro.

The therapy began with Dr. Shapiro’s chance observation that eye movements appeared to reduce the intensity of disturbing thoughts, leading her to study this phenomenon scientifically.

At its core, EMDR therapy is based on the understanding that when a person experiences a traumatic or distressing event, their brain may not process the memory properly.

The memory becomes “frozen” or “stuck” in the nervous system with the original images, sounds, thoughts, feelings, and body sensations. When triggered, these unprocessed memories can create symptoms of psychological distress in the present.

EMDR therapy differs from traditional talk therapies in several ways:

• Rather than focusing primarily on changing thoughts, feelings, or behaviours, EMDR focuses on the brain’s information processing system and the stored memories that are causing distress.
• The therapy uses bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements, but sometimes taps or tones) while the you briefly focus on the traumatic memory.
• EMDR doesn’t require detailed discussion of the distressing event or homework between sessions, which some people find less distressing than other approaches.

The goal of EMDR is to help the brain process these difficult memories and incorporate them into a more adaptive perspective. Clients often report that the memories themselves become less distressing and more distant, allowing them to recall the event without reliving it.

How EMDR Works

EMDR therapy follows a structured eight-phase approach.

The 8 Phases of EMDR Treatment

1. History Taking and Treatment Planning: Your therapist will take a detailed history and develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
2. Preparation: You’ll learn coping techniques and emotional regulation skills to help manage distress that may arise during processing.
3. Assessment: Together with your therapist, you’ll identify specific memories to target and the negative beliefs associated with them.
4. Desensitization: This phase uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, or tones) while you briefly focus on the target memory, allowing your brain to process the experience.
5. Installation: Positive beliefs are strengthened to replace the negative beliefs associated with the traumatic memories.
6. Body Scan: You’ll be asked to observe any residual physical tension or discomfort in your body while thinking of the target memory.
7. Closure: Each session ends with stabilization techniques, ensuring you feel grounded before leaving.
8. Reevaluation: At the beginning of subsequent sessions, your therapist will check how previous work is holding and identify new targets if needed.

Bilateral Stimulation

The distinctive element of EMDR therapy is bilateral stimulation – typically rhythmic left-right eye movements, but sometimes alternating tones or taps.

While you briefly focus on the traumatic memory and its associated thoughts, feelings, and sensations, the therapist will guide your eyes to move from side to side, similar to what occurs naturally during REM sleep.

Research suggests that this bilateral stimulation appears to stimulate the brain’s information processing system, allowing the brain to resume its natural healing process.

The exact neurobiological mechanisms are still being researched, but brain imaging studies show changes in how the brain processes information after EMDR therapy.

The Adaptive Information Processing Model

EMDR is based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, which posits that most psychopathology is caused by unprocessed traumatic memories stored in their original, distressing form.

According to this model:

• The brain naturally moves toward mental health, just as the body heals physical wounds
• Trauma disrupts this natural processing system
• EMDR helps remove the blocks to this natural healing process
• Once processing occurs, the memory is stored in a more adaptive form, connected to positive networks in the brain

This explains why, after successful EMDR therapy, the memories remain but the painful emotions and physical sensations are transformed, allowing you to remember what happened without being overwhelmed by the original distress.

What can EMDR Help?

Trauma and PTSD

EMDR is most well-known for its effectiveness in treating trauma and PTSD. Multiple randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that EMDR therapy significantly reduces symptoms of PTSD, with results maintained at follow-up.

The therapy is recommended for the treatment of PTSD by:

• The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
• The World Health Organization (WHO)
• The American Psychological Association (APA)

EMDR can help with both single-incident traumas (such as accidents, assaults, or natural disasters) and complex trauma resulting from prolonged or repeated traumatic experiences.

Anxiety

Research supports the use of EMDR therapy for various anxiety disorders, including:

• Panic Disorder: Studies show EMDR may reduce panic attacks and associated anxiety (Faretta, E., & Leeds, A. M., 2017)
• Phobias: EMDR has been effective in treating specific phobias by targeting the memories that contribute to the fear response (de Jongh, A., Ten Broeke, E., & Renssen, M. R., 1999)
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder: EMDR may help process the experiences that contribute to persistent worry and anxiety (Gauvreau, P., & Bouchard, S., 2008)

Depression

Growing evidence suggests EMDR can be effective for depression, particularly when it’s connected to negative life experiences or trauma. A 2014 study found that EMDR was as effective as CBT in treating depression.

Other Applications of EMDR

EMDR therapy has shown promising results for:

• Grief and Bereavement: Helping process complicated grief reactions
• Pain Management: Addressing chronic pain with psychological components
• Addiction: Treating the underlying traumatic experiences that often contribute to substance use disorders
• Self-Esteem Issues: Working with early negative experiences that shape self-perception
• Performance Anxiety: Reducing anxiety that interferes with performance in various contexts

Limitations and Considerations

While EMDR is a powerful therapeutic approach, it’s important to acknowledge some limitations and concerns:

• Not Universally Suitable: EMDR may not be appropriate for individuals with certain conditions such as severe dissociative disorders, acute psychosis, or severe cognitive impairments.
• Ongoing Research: Some critics point out that the mechanism of action remains incompletely understood, with debate about whether eye movements are necessary or if other components of the therapy are responsible for its effects.
• Emotional Intensity: The process can temporarily increase distress as traumatic memories are accessed, requiring careful preparation and stabilization work before processing begins.
• Therapist Qualification: The effectiveness of EMDR depends significantly on the therapist’s training and experience with the protocol, making proper certification important.
• Variable Results: As with all therapies, individual responses vary, and EMDR may work better for some people than others.

Interested in EMDR Therapy?

If you would like a free initial consultation to learn more about me and whether EMDR coudl be helpful for you, feel free to get in touch.