Has someone suggested you try EMDR therapy before?
With all the various types and approaches of therapy out there, it can feel overwhelming on where to start. From a Bethesda EMDR therapist, here is a simplified breakdown of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and how it can be effective for you:
What is EMDR Therapy?
To begin, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a mental health therapy method used by our certified EMDR Bethesda therapists. EMDR therapy utilizes the technique of bilateral stimulation, typically moving your eyes a specific way or tapping while processing your traumatic memories. This approach aims to help you heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences, along with a reduction in vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. EMDR helps the mind heal from psychological trauma, similar to how the body recovers from physical trauma. EMDR addresses the core of the person’s pain, treating it at the source.
Is EMDR Therapy for me?
EMDR can be used on anyone at any age. This therapy is recommended for individuals with overwhelming traumatic memories and experiences, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Individuals with other mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or panic attacks, may find EMDR effective.
How does EMDR work?
EMDR has a direct effect on the way the brain processes information, releasing emotional experiences that are trapped in the nervous system. A certified EMDR therapist helps you to recall a distressing thought, memory, or feeling. Next, the therapist conducts bilateral stimulation, or something you can see, hear, or touch moving in a side-to-side pattern (typically moving your eyes back and forth or tapping). This allows the distressing memories to be reprocessed by the brain. They result in the painful feeling being exchanged for more resolved, peaceful feelings.
You may experience slight emotional discomfort during this process, as most trauma therapies do, but you should never feel overwhelmed. This therapy is not meant to leave you re-traumatized. It’s important that you talk with a trained and licensed therapist about the difference between some emotional discomfort and feeling overwhelmed.
EMDR treatment typically consists of anywhere from 6 to 12 sessions but can vary depending on an individual’s needs. The therapy is broken down into 8 phases:
- Patient history and information gathering: Getting a history of your life experiences
- Preparation and Experiences: Preparing you to work through some negative experiences in your past
- Assessment: Determining what past experiences you will need to work through
- Desensitization and Reprocessing: Working through some of these old memories
- Installation: Implementing more positive beliefs or strengths
- Body Scan: Working through any physical symptoms from your thoughts
- Closure and Stabilization: Finding closure for these past negative memories
- Reevaluation and Continuing Care: Reevaluating each session to make sure processing was successful
EMDR is effective for in-person and telehealth formats.
If you’re curious about EMDR, talk with an EMDR Bethesda Therapist to decide if this approach is the right fit for you.
