What Is EMDR Therapy?

In the late 1980s, Dr. Francine Shapiro studied how people physically react when they think about upsetting events. She found that many people show rapid eye movements when recalling traumatic experiences.

Through her insightful observations, Shapiro pioneered the development of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy alongside the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. This new method helps the brain process difficult memories by combining them with outside triggers. It aims to reduce the negative effects of these memories.

The method involves remembering difficult events. By using outside triggers, the brain can process these memories more effectively.

Initial support for EMDR therapy emerged from notable organizations, including the United States Department of Defense (USDDOD), the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (USVA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the American Psychiatric Association (APA), acknowledging its effectiveness in managing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

More mental health professionals discovered EMDR and found it helpful for treating various mental health issues. EMDR is effective in treating a range of mental health problems.

EMDR therapy has proven successful in managing numerous conditions, including:

• Various phobias
• Dissociative mental conditions
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Depressive disorders
• Disorders associated with eating
• Persistent pain
• Sleep-related disorders
• Trauma resulting from sexual assault
• Conditions linked to substance abuse
• Self-harming behaviors
• Traumatic memories

In numerous instances, EMDR therapy successfully reduced the majority of symptoms. However, additional conventional talk therapies are employed for more intense or extended situations to guarantee the most favorable result.

What Does EMDR Stand For?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR is short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This therapy helps individuals cope with negative emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations stemming from traumatic memories and disturbing events.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR is a therapy that changes how your brain deals with and reacts to upsetting memories of events.

EMDR therapy lasts 6-12 weeks with 90-minute sessions. It combines trauma processing with external stimulation across eight stages.

This method helps reduce stress from bad memories. It changes how the brain processes them, making them more positive and healthier.

Unlike talk therapy sessions, EMDR does not require in-depth discussion or examination of the event itself. Instead, it addresses a specific memory and its subsequent impacts and reactions.

EMDR doesn’t erase memories; it changes how memories are processed, making them easier to handle and cope with in the long term.

How Does EMDR Work?

Traumatic memories and significant life events are encoded in the brain distinctly from ordinary memories and experiences. EMDR helps change how the brain and body remember and react to memories. It does this by moving memories to a part of the brain that is less likely to cause negative feelings.

People who have experienced intense and dangerous situations may have vivid memories. These memories can make them feel like they are reliving the emotions and reactions each time they remember.

Different things like places, sounds, smells, words, or events can cause flashbacks and make us react quickly to danger.

The brain’s dependence on organization and processes for properly categorizing memories and regulating both mental and physical responses is crucial. EMDR’s success in addressing trauma stems from activating these neural processes.

Therapists use a light bar that moves from side to side. Patients follow the light with their eyes to help remember difficult memories without feeling too overwhelmed.

This technique keeps the brain focused on tracking movement instead of traumatic memories. This helps reduce the impact of the memories and allows for healthier processing and storage.

EMDR therapists employ a direct approach, addressing memories to transform negative associations and emotions into positive affirmations.

For example, someone who has experienced a robbery may initially feel shame or embarrassment. EMDR can help change negative feelings into positive beliefs. For example, you may believe you made a smart choice to keep yourself safe. You may also think that you did what was necessary to protect yourself.

EMDR has eight phases, which are to recondition the brain and thought patterns, helping people recover from difficult experiences.

Phases of EMDR

Dr. Shapiro segmented EMDR therapy into defined phases, establishing a direct and systematic procedure that ensures swift and transparent progress and evaluation.

EMDR therapy has 8 phases:

• Phase One: History Taking and Treatment Planning
• Phase Two: Preparation
• Phase Three: Assessment
• Phase Four: Desensitization
• Phase Five: Installation
• Phase Six: Body Scan
• Phase Seven: Closure
• Phase Eight: Reevaluation

Phase One: History Taking and Treatment Planning

You and your therapist will review your past and past treatments. You will figure out which memories and behaviors need to be focused on. Your therapist will help you set goals and discuss what you hope to achieve with EMDR therapy.

Phase Two: Preparation

Your therapist will guide you through the stages of EMDR, explaining what to anticipate at each step. They will also teach you ways to manage stress and help you feel more in control during sessions. They will also help you deal with any uncomfortable emotions that come up.

Phase Three: Assessment

During this phase, you and your therapist will select a specific memory to focus on. This memory may contain images, thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that are associated with it. Together, you will also identify positive perspectives to concentrate on, serving to neutralize the negative aspects.

Phase Four: Desensitization

In EMDR therapy, your therapist will help you with bilateral stimulation. This can include eye movements, taps, audio tones, or flashing lights.

During this process, you will focus on a specific memory. As you allow your mind to clear, you’ll express any emotions and thoughts that surface. Your therapist will determine if more time is needed to work on this memory or if it’s time to move forward. This decision will be based on how you react.

Phase Five: Installation

By using positive words and affirmations, you can replace negative beliefs and feelings identified in phase three. Depending on the intensity of the intrusive thoughts, some individuals may need to undergo phase five multiple times.

Phase Six: Body Scan

The patient will undergo a full-body scan, which will help identify any physical reactions to upsetting memories. These reactions may include tension, pain, or twitching.

Your therapist will revisit the earlier phases if you still have physical reactions. They will continue to address them until they are fully resolved and no longer present.

Phase Seven: Closure

Your therapist will explain what to expect before the next session after each session. They will also help you maintain your progress until then.

Phase Eight: Reevaluation

At the start of each session, you will discuss any new memories and emotions that have surfaced since the last meeting. If no new developments are related to the previously addressed memory, you will proceed to the next memory. The process from steps four through seven will be iterated until the therapist and patient meet their objectives.

EMDR Benefits

EMDR therapy is effective and can produce results quickly. It does not require delving deeply into traumatic memories.

A study found that 91% of people who got EMDR for PTSD did not have symptoms later. This percentage is higher than the 71% of individuals who took medication for PTSD.

EMDR can help heal past traumas and improve other effective treatments by reducing intrusive thoughts. This allows for more effective use of different therapeutic approaches.

EMDR Treatment at White Oak Recovery Center

EMDR can help those struggling with addiction and manage their reactions to difficult situations as a first step.

At White Oak Recovery Center, we help people with addiction and mental health issues by treating the whole person. Our approach incorporates multiple evidence-based therapies, including EMDR, to facilitate sustainable recovery.

We help residents build a strong foundation and gain the skills and confidence needed for their recovery. We want to support our residents in living rooted in recovery for life.

Contact us today to speak with our compassionate treatment professionals. Learn how White Oak Recovery Center can assist you in beginning a fresh chapter in your life.