EMDR
Our brains are both complex and powerful. Our brains can serve as a valuable tool when preparing for the future, developing skill sets, and creating new ideas; however, our brains can also get stuck following overwhelming events. When partnering with individuals who have experienced trauma in their lives, I often hear the reflection of feeling “disconnected” from their body and being at a loss when looking for the words on how to describe their experiences. One of the avenues that researchers have discovered assisting patients with rewriting their stories and gaining freedom over past traumas and distressing symptoms is through a tool called EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
The Science behind Trauma…
Our brains hold trauma in the amygdala, which is responsible for things such as our fight, flight, or freeze reactions and providing judgment to protect us from unsafe situations in life. However, when experiencing trauma, our brain can become stuck and ultimately triggered in future cases when witnessing similar experiences despite no immediate danger being present. Ultimately, these experiences result in an extended state of stress which can manifest multiple other outcomes such as phobias, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as other medical and mental health diagnoses however, by utilizing EMDR, you are able to gain a greater strength relating to your window of tolerance.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. I first learned about EMDR while practicing in San Francisco. I sat in a room filled with individuals turning their attention to a man who presented as though he had transported from the 1970’s. As he described EMDR, I initially associated it with hypnosis due to it’s relationship with eye movements; however, as I attended additional training sessions and invested in learning opportunities, I became aware that there is in fact no witch’s brooms, pixie dust, nor hypnosis involved. EMDR is in fact an evidence-based approach which has been revealed to be a directive and effective towards treating symptoms relating to trauma, PTSD, mood and anxiety disorders, phobias, grief/loss and more! Oftentimes, following a change of events or traumatic experience(s), we can feel overwhelmed and have difficulty making sense of our story. By breaking down our experience, we can begin to gain clarity and better envision our next steps…
1. Sensory – We take in all the information of the environment surrounding us
2. Movement – Our bodies respond to the sensory information that we have experienced
3. Perception – We reflect on our past and associate it with the present movements and sensations experienced
4. Emotion – We react to the perception we have created
5. Cognition – Our thoughts lead us toward meanings and beliefs that we connect to our overall experience
EMDR effectively addresses each of the previously listed steps, through the assistance of a trained clinician. The process of participating in EMDR is noted by patients as both powerful and empowering as it allows quick processing relating to experiences in a safe environment that would normally take months through traditional talk therapy. EMDR is presented in a structure of several phases to assist in processing healing.
What should I expect when EMDR is part of my therapy?
· Phase 1 – Assessment: During this stage your therapist and you will spend time exploring what is bringing you to seek counseling as well as what you are able to identify as your current trigger(s) while reviewing your past history and determine if EMDR would complimenting towards your goals for therapy.
· Phase 2 – Coping Skills: Your therapist will encourage you to utilize coping skills during this stage in order to allow your to reflect on your experiences while minimizing the possibility of becoming retraumatized when recalling events. Some coping skills that may be suggested could include visualization, grounding skills, and/or mindfulness skills.
· Phases 3 through 6: During phases 3 through 6, EMDR is being applied strategically by a trained therapist to assist in identifying and reprocessing your past situations that you have identified as causing distress in your life. Oftentimes this process is completed by your therapist requesting you to identify an image, negative thought, or physical sensation or emotion paired with a specific memory. Once identifying the thought, your therapist will utilize bi-lateral stimulation to assist in connecting to the targeted memory. Oftentimes, the bi-lateral stimulation will be applied through the use of tapping, buzzers, eye-movements, and/or tones going from either left to right, diagonal, or side to side. The purpose of bi-lateral stimulation is to create a representation of what occurs during REM (rapid eye-movement) sleep – typically where processing occurs while asleep; however, EMDR allows similar processing to occur while fully awake and in control.
· Phase 7: During this phase, the therapist will assist the patient as he/she reflects on insights gained from the prior sessions while reviewing coping skills introduced during the initial phases to encourage continued growth and maintenance while building resilience towards level of distress tolerance.
· Phase 8: During this final stage the therapist and patient identify the level of disturbance, if any, when recalling the initial trigger identified in phase 1.
Role of the Therapist
The therapist is present through the process of the previous eight phases to encourage healing in a supportive and safe environment. Progress is determined by the patient’s identified level of disturbance when recalling the experience as well as their self identified progress towards their determined goal (i.e. overcoming phobias, etc.) and insights gained. Processing happens both during and in between sessions. The length of EMDR treatment has multiple variables such as: the patient’s readiness to address their traumatic events, severity of trauma, and intensity of symptoms. While EMDR was initially developed to treat individuals with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as previously stated, it can provide assistance towards a multitude of other difficult symptoms including – anxiety, depression, and various phobias (etc.). It is important to note that EMDR is to be administered by a licensed healthcare clinician who has received training and certification following the guidelines of EMDRIA; and, the incredible news is that some of our clinicians, within Central Texas Child and Family Counseling, have received this training!
If you are looking to heal from the effects of your past trauma and gain freedom in your present day, consider if meeting with an EMDR therapist may be a supportive tool for you!
-Lauren Gibson, LMFT
