EMDR // What is it and do I really need it?
In short, EMDR—eye movement desensitization and reprocessing—is a unique form of psychotherapy (one of the most researched of all time!) statistically proven to ease a person’s sensitivity to their painful experience so they can go about their lives with fewer debilitating flashbacks, nightmares, and reactions to everyday stimuli.
Experiencing an event, like violence, crime, abuse, or assault is obviously traumatizing. But trauma can also include anything that happens to a person that feels like too much, too soon, or too overwhelming. So whether an adult has been robbed at gunpoint or a third grader is significantly overwhelmed walking into summer camp, the brain stores those experiences differently until they are able to be reprocessed. Unfortunately, until a person can reprocess their trauma and situate it differently in their brain, they might relive that event over and over again in obvious and not-so-obvious ways, which can feel like the worst kind of torture.
And yet, with EMDR, there is hope.
So, how does it work?
Typically, EMDR is sought out by folks who know their traumatic experiences are negatively impacting their lives, and are ready to do the hard work of facing it. But, even when you’re ready to dive in, EMDR can seem like a scary process, so let’s break it down:
History & Treatment Plan: First, you’ll work with your therapist to establish a comprehensive history and identify “targets,” aka traumatic moments, words, visuals, etc. to work on.
Preparation: Your therapist will introduce EMDR coping skills to help with difficult emotions that might arise during and after treatment.
Assessment: Work with your therapist to identify “targets,” like feelings, beliefs, and sensations attached to the bad memory.
Desensitization: This part can feel unusual at first, but the idea is that you can soften the impact of a highly charged memory or event by intentionally activating both sides of the body as you recall said memory. The stimuli could take the form of a light moving from left to right, alternately vibrating disks in each hand, bilateral tapping, etc.
Installation: Replace your negative association to the “target” with a positive one until it feels completely true to you.
Body Scan: Scan your body for leftover icky feelings, and process them out as guided by your therapist.
Debriefing & Closure: Get back to a regulated, relaxed state, and review coping, self regulation, and self care techniques for you to use between sessions.
Re-evaluation: At the start of your next session, you’ll review your progress and re-establish new targets and needs.
Okay, but does it really work?
So, now you know HOW it works, but maybe you’re wondering if it really works at all, and thanks to tons of research over the last 40 years, we can confidently say—YES. Here are some stats to back it up:
Current and former combatants researched at a Veterans Affairs facility showed a 78% reduction in PTSD symptoms following 12 EMDR sessions.
Kaiser Permanente sponsored research that reported 100% of single-trauma sufferers and 77% of people impacted by multiple trauma show no diagnosable PTSD following six EMDR sessions.
A randomized EMDR study of non-military participants recorded that 90 percent of sexual assault victims experienced PTSD relief following three 1.5 hour sessions.
EMDR successfully aids in the relief of trauma induced by natural disasters. Studies were conducted after earthquakes and aftershocks in both Mexico and Italy. Research in 2016 indicated significant reduction of symptoms of post-traumatic stress for survivors. A 12-week follow-up determined relief to be meaningful and lasting.
A study conducted in a transportation department revealed that PTSD due to accidents and assault was relieved by 67% after EMDR six sessions.
In addition to PTSD, EMDR has been proven to have a positive impact on people suffering from depression, anxiety, low motivation, hallucinations, delusions, cravings, and panic attacks with lasting results that don’t diminish over time.
For obvious reasons, there are some therapists at Brave who are passionate about EMDR and highly trained to lead you through the process, so reach out today if you’re ready to rewrite the story, rewire the neural pathways, and get closer to living the life you want to live.
Ready to talk? So are we. Ready when you are, click here.
