Is EMDR Therapy Right For Me?

There are so many different kinds of therapy out there – it is easy to get confused and overwhelmed. Methods of therapy can generally be divided into “talk” therapy and “somatic” therapy. The former involves talking through your problems and the latter involves focusing on bodily sensations instead of words. EMDR therapy falls into the somatic category as it uses your body to help process trauma and improve your mental condition.

You may have heard about EMDR therapy already – the popularity of the search term “EMDR” reached an all-time high in May of 2021. You may also be wondering if EMDR is the right kind of therapy for your particular problem. Read on to decide for yourself if this method will be a good fit for you. If you have never heard of it, today is the perfect time to learn more.

What Type of Therapy is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) is a therapy that uses eye movements or other types of bilateral (side-to-side) stimulation to process painful memories and decrease the discomfort they cause to the traumatized person. A memory does not have to be severely traumatic for EMDR therapy to work. It can be a memory of something embarrassing, anxiety-producing, shameful, scary, or simply unpleasant.

Where Did EMDR Therapy Originate?

EMDR was created by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987 and presented to the scientific community in 1989. Dr. Shapiro noticed that when her clients made eye movements, the intensity of their disturbing thoughts was reduced. Later, it was discovered that other types of bilateral stimulation have the same effect. Over the years, research led to the development of a specific protocol for EMDR therapy.

Is EMDR Therapy Effective?

Yes, there is a reason why EMDR is a highly popular and sought-after therapy. EMDR has been found to be very effective for multiple conditions in multiple studies. In fact, it is one of the most-researched therapies out there. You can find a list of studies of EMDR here.

EMDR Therapy to Treat Trauma and PTSD

Trauma refers to a psychological disturbance resulting from traumatizing events. Not everyone who suffers trauma will develop PTSD, and EMDR does not require a diagnosis of PTSD before it can be used. The World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs recognize EMDR as effective therapy for PTSD and other stress-related conditions.

Pain lingering after traumatic events like assault, car accidents, childhood abuse, natural disasters, a sudden death of loved one, pet loss, miscarriages, divorce, and infidelity can be greatly reduced with EMDR. Trauma from one-off events can be healed in just a few sessions, while complex trauma takes longer. With treatment, you will still remember the traumatic memory, but it will no longer “grab” you and disturb you.

EMDR Therapy for Other Conditions

EMDR is not just a PTSD treatment. Studies show that panic, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, OCD, addiction, and phobias can all be successfully treated with bilateral stimulation provided in EMDR therapy. Effects remain months after treatment – people who receive EMDR enjoy long-term relief from their symptoms. It is possible to theorize that any mental condition that has negative memories associated with it can be improved by EMDR.

How EMDR Therapy Works

There are several explanations of how EMDR therapy achieves its goals. EMDR is guided by the adaptive information processing (AIP) model. AIP states that there is a processing system in the brain that incorporates new memories into existing networks. Traumatic memories are not adequately digested and get “stuck.” Overall, EMDR seems to directly affect the way our brains process information by triggering a state similar to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This allows the stuck traumatic memory to be processed and properly placed within the cerebral neural network.

What to Expect During EMDR Therapy

First, your therapist will take a history of your memories related to your symptoms and identify a target memory. You will learn skills to contain negative feelings and sensations and regulate your emotional state. When your EMDR therapist is sure you are ready to proceed, you will be asked to provide an image, a negative belief, emotions, and bodily sensations related to the target memory. Then, bilateral stimulation will begin.

This activity will eventually desensitize you to the memory. This is usually achieved through eye movements – your eyes may be guided by the therapist’s fingers, a wand, or an electronic light bar. However, you can also be stimulated by receiving audio tones to your right, then left ear; by holding vibrating devices in your hands, or by tapping on your chest or knees. When memories are sufficiently processed, your therapist will guide you through “installing” a positive belief and scanning your body to ensure that no disturbance remains.

What to Expect After EMDR Therapy

You can expect to feel tired and a bit “out of it” after a session. You may feel sleepy and yawn a lot. It is a good idea to take it easy and let your brain finish processing the material. You may want to take a break if you have a long drive to get home from your therapist’s office. It is a good idea to get more sleep than usual the night after your session.

Your EMDR therapist should instruct you to expect this tiredness and let you know that you may experience related memories, dreams, and sensations throughout the week (they are usually not exceedingly disturbing). The therapist will often encourage you to keep a journal of these events to be discussed in the next session.

Can EMDR Therapy Be Done Online?

EMDR therapy is best done in person, but it can also be performed online. There is little research specifically about online EMDR, but it has been practiced by many therapists during COVID-19 with reportedly comparable results. Your EMDR therapist should notify you of risks and benefits of online therapy and advise you that there are not yet many studies about online EMDR, but the research that has been performed is very promising. Online EMDR therapy should not be done in situations where the person is very unstable.

Can EMDR Be Done Without Recalling Trauma in Detail?

Yes! There is a method of using EMDR without having to bring up clear images or emotions about the traumatic memory. It is called the Flash Technique and it was created by Dr. Phillip Mansfield in 2017. When using the Flash Technique, you will be asked to simply “touch” on the memory you want to process without going deeply into it. Then, you will focus on something pleasant as you receive bilateral stimulation. You will be asked to blink rapidly several times. After a few sets of tapping, the memory is usually much less disturbing. You can find therapists trained in the Flash Technique here.

Will EMDR Therapy Work For Me?

There is no way to know for sure if EMDR therapy will work for you, but research indicates that it is highly effective for people of any age, race, gender, socioeconomic status, etc. The best way to tell if EMDR works for you is to try it, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Because of its effectiveness, EMDR can make a difference in just a few sessions. There are some contraindications – keep reading to learn more about them.

When EMDR Therapy Should Not Be Used

EMDR is generally not recommended if you are pregnant, actively suicidal, or engaging in unstable substance abuse. In these situations, you should consult with your doctor and therapist prior to using this therapy. It is also cautioned against if the traumatized person has to give court testimony as EMDR therapy can affect memories. Severe dissociation and psychosis can be difficult to manage with EMDR, and not all therapists will work with psychotic or dissociative clients.

Who Can Provide EMDR Therapy

EMDR should only be done by specially trained therapists. Therapists can be EMDRIA certified, but this certification is not required to practice EMDR as long as the therapist received EMDRIA-approved training. You can find an EMDR therapist here.

We hope that this article helped you decide if you should try EMDR therapy. As mentioned, it does not have to cost a fortune.

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We offer EMDR therapy both in-person and online - please reach out for details.