What is EMDR?
Q&A with a Registered Psychotherapist
We spoke to Registered Psychotherapist Divya Dorairaj about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. Divya offers EMDR at Peachey Counselling to individuals at our Burlington office.
Q: How is unresolved trauma harmful to mental health?
Unresolved trauma can be harmful in many ways because it can impact daily functioning without you being consciously aware of the cause.
We can develop ways of coping with trauma that can turn into habits and continue beyond the point where such strategies are actually needed or useful. For example, people-pleasing might be a survival strategy that can keep a child safe in a volatile family environment. However, it can also lead to issues when this strategy is continually applied in situations that don’t actually call for it as an adult. Working on healing unresolved trauma can help update coping/survival strategies that were helpful in the past, but are no longer helpful in the present.
Q: What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic modality that believes past emotionally charged experiences are overly influencing your present emotions, sensations, and thoughts about yourself.
It works on updating beliefs based on past experiences/trauma (negative neural networks) to a healthier present perspective (positive neural networks). It can also desensitize intense trauma responses and shift trauma images.
Q: What are the benefits of EMDR?
There are a few benefits worth noting, especially when comparing EMDR to traditional therapy modalities.
Talking is minimal during processing phases which can be helpful for people who don’t want to talk about traumatic memories. There have also been faster outcomes shown to be possible with EMDR compared to traditional talk therapy. This makes it possible to have frequent, intensive sessions focused on trauma processing that can have effective outcomes.
Q: How does EMDR work exactly?
EMDR allows the brain to process traumatic memories from the past while being focused on the present.
More specifically, EMDR is an eight-step protocol that involves stimulating the left and right sides of your brain (“bilateral stimulation”) in order to update negative beliefs and related distress to a positive belief that you would like to move toward.
These eight steps can grouped into three stages: case conceptualization, processing, and integration.
The first stage, case conceptualization resembles traditional talk therapy. Your therapist will collect information about your history, concerns, and current coping strategies to determine whether or not EMDR will be a good fit for you, or if some modifications need to happen to make it more suitable for you. In this stage, you will also create your treatment plan, learn about different coping strategies, and work on strengthening your ability to call on positive coping skills to help with emotion regulation.
In the processing stage, you will move forward with your treatment plan and process traumatic memories using bilateral stimulation which can involve left to right eye movements, listening to alternating tones, using handheld tappers that vibrate, and/or using your hands to tap somewhere on your body, e.g. arms or legs. You can work with your therapist to determine your boundaries of what you would like to process and what you would like to stay away from.
The integration phase also resembles traditional talk therapy where you will process your experience with your therapist, consolidate the results of the processing, and discuss how any changes you’ve experienced will be carried forward in the future.
Q: How does EMDR compare to other types of therapy?
Different modalities have their strengths and drawbacks, but EMDR is effective in processing trauma and takes a holistic approach in terms of integrating wisdom from your thoughts and your body.
Standard EMDR protocol can be even more useful when combined with other types of therapy. Having a therapist that integrates EMDR with other therapy styles can be helpful. For example, pairing parts work (e.g. Internal Family Systems, structural dissociation theory, Ego State Therapy, etc.) with EMDR can be effective (and necessary) when working with complex trauma. However, when it comes to working through issues that aren’t specifically trauma-related or when dealing with specific mental health conditions, standard EMDR can have its shortcomings. This is another reason why taking an integrative approach is helpful. Regardless of modality, the most important factor in therapy is your relationship with your therapist, so finding a therapist who is a good fit for you is key.
Q: How do I know if EMDR is right for me?
As with any form of psychotherapy, you will work with your therapist every step of the way to ensure that it is a positive, safe experience that will help you see the changes you want in your life.
If you are looking for a form of therapy that is different from traditional talk therapy, if you have difficulty talking about the trauma you are needing to process, and if you are in a place in your healing where you are stable in your ability to keep yourself safe, EMDR might be a good fit for you. Always do your research so that you feel more in control of your healing. Finding a therapist or form of therapy that is a good fit for you is the most important part of the therapy process.
Q: What can I expect from an EMDR session?
This will depend on what stage you are in within the EMDR protocol.
The initial stages are traditional talk therapy, where assessment is done, goals are set, and coping strategies are discussed. Processing sessions will involve bilateral stimulation during part or most of the session, and integration sessions will look like traditional talk therapy
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