Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment designed to improve distress caused by traumatic memories. Over the past 25 years, millions of people have been successfully treated with EMDR by over 100,000 clinicians around the world.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM EMDR THERAPY?
EMDR therapy is recognized as an extremely effective treatment for traumatic memories related to the treatment of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). While eye movements are a distinctive aspect of the treatment, EMDR is complex psychotherapy with numerous components. Eye movements hold attention on an external stimulus while simultaneously focusing on distressing internal information. Other stimuli such as hand-tapping or tones can also be used.
Extensive research has been conducted on EMDR therapy which resulted in the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, and the Department of Defense to all recognize it as an effective form of treatment for trauma. EMDR therapy effectively treats people with low self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness, and other problems that cause them to seek therapy.
Across multiple studies, nearly 90% of single-trauma patients no longer had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after three 90-minute sessions. One study, funded by the HMO Kaiser Permanente, reported 100% of single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims no longer had PTSD after six 50-minute sessions. In another study, 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD in 12 sessions.
EMDR ALLOWS THE MIND TO HEAL
EMDR therapy relies on techniques using memories and eye movements rather than talking through those painful memories. The therapist asks the client to think about different aspects of a traumatic event while the patient watches the therapist’s hand move back and forth across the patient’s field of vision. It is thought the biological mechanisms involved in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep allow internal associations to occur so a patient can process the memory and disturbing feelings. In successful EMDR therapy, traumatic events are transformed on an emotional level. For example, a rape victim can shift from feelings of fear and low self-esteem to a realization of, “I survived it and I am strong.”
EMDR therapy does not rely on a therapist’s interpretation of the event through talking, but instead, develops the patient’s own intellectual and emotional processes. This means patients feel empowered by the experiences that once degraded them. Their psychological wounds are healed.
Efficacy and Research
Studies show EMDR therapy allows the mind to heal from psychological trauma similar to the way the body recovers from physical trauma. For example, if a person had a severe cut on their arm and it was repeatedly irritated or contained debris that was not properly removed, the wound would remain open and painful long after it should have healed. Only after the debris or irritation is removed can the wound properly heal. EMDR therapy applies this type of strategy to help the mind heal from psychological wounds through specific procedures in multiple sessions.
EMDR TREATMENT – PHASES 1 THROUGH 8
EMDR therapy blends different techniques that maximize the results of the treatment. It focuses on past disturbing memories and related events, reviews current situations that cause distress, and develops skills and attitudes for positive future outcomes.
EMDR therapy has eight phases of treatment:
PHASE 1
The therapist will review the patient’s history to identify distressing memories and events for EMDR processing. The therapist will also develop a treatment plan based on the patient’s readiness for change. The patient will learn specific skills and behaviors for use in future situations. In some cases, EMDR processing may begin with childhood events rather than adult experiences that cause distress. This helps patients gain insight into changing current behaviors.
The length of treatment depends upon the number of traumatic events and the patient’s age when PTSD first occurs. Patients who experienced a single traumatic event as an adult can be successfully treated in about five hours. Those who are victims of multiple trauma events may require more treatment time.
PHASE 2
The patient will learn several ways to handle their emotional distress. This may include imagery and stress reduction techniques. EMDR therapy seeks to provide quick and productive change during sessions and teach the patient how to manage their distressful feelings between sessions.
PHASEs 3 - 6
The patient identifies and processes a targeted memory using the EMDR therapy procedures they have learned by identifying:
1. The visual image related to the traumatic memory
2. The emotions and body sensations related to that memory
3. A negative belief about themself
4. A positive belief about themself
The patient will then simultaneously engage in EMDR processing using sets of bilateral stimulation, which may include sets using eye movements, taps, or tones. While this is happening, the patient is asked to notice what occurs naturally. At the end of the set, the patient is told to clear their mind first, then pay attention to thoughts, feelings, memories, images, or sensations that occur.
Based on that feedback, the therapist can then choose the next thing to focus on. The sets are repeated with specific attention on those items. If a patient finds it difficult to continue forward, the therapist will use established procedures to get back on track. Once there is no distress related to a targeted memory, then a positive belief is brought back to mind so the patient can adjust and focus on it.
PHASE 7
The patient will keep a log to record any details that demonstrate self-calming activities they learned in Phase 2 were successfully applied.
PHASE 8
The therapist and patient examine the progress of the EMDR therapy. They review the process of responding to past traumatic events and discuss any current or future events that may require different responses.
