EMDR, known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a therapy created by Dr. Francine Shapiro to help with trauma and post-traumatic stress symptoms. During EMDR sessions, therapists use techniques like eye movements to help clients work through difficult memories. EMDR can be used for various issues and can be combined with other types of therapy.

Trauma is any lasting bad experience that hasn't been dealt with. "Being traumatized" is very personal. We can all go through the same bad things, but each react differently. EMDR helps process emotions stuck due to trauma. For instance, if I went through a terrible natural disaster, I might have felt very scared. This fear stays until I work through it. Trauma tends to trap emotions in the brain and body. If not dealt with, these tough emotions stick around and cause problems like being easily annoyed, anxious, or depressed. EMDR helps “reprocess” the bad event and digest it. Once this happens, the past trauma doesn’t affect us as much. As Dan Siegel, a famous clinical psychiatry professor, said: “feel it to heal it.”

EMDR is a therapy tool that has been shown to be effective for various kinds of issues, especially for individuals dealing with:

All forms of trauma

Anxiety and depression

Anger

Fears and phobias

Chronic pain

Substance abuse

Sports performance issues

EMDR is an 8-phase process:

The eight phases are 1) history taking and treatment planning, 2) preparation, 3) assessment, 4) desensitization, 5) installation, 6) body scan, 7) closure and 8) reevaluation.

Phase 1: First, the therapist and client talk about why the client is seeking therapy and how EMDR therapy can help. They also build a strong working relationship. They discuss the client's past and create a treatment plan, focusing on how fast to go and which past events to work on. They also look at the client's strengths and support from others.

Response: During Phase 2, the therapist helps the client get ready for EMDR therapy. They talk about how it works, answer questions, and make sure the client feels safe. Together, they plan ways to handle any tough feelings that may come up. Some clients take extra time in Phases 1 and 2 before moving forward.

Phase 3: During assessment, we find the event to work on (called the target event) and explore the images, beliefs, feelings, and physical sensations related to it. We also establish initial measures using the Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD) scale and the Validity of Cognition (VOC) scale.

The next three phases are called the “reprocessing” phases and all use dual attention bilateral stimulation (BLS). Dual attention BLS activates the client’s thinking while keeping them focused on the present moment. Dual attention BLS can involve side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or taps.

Phase 4: During desensitization, the client does side to side eye movements, focuses on the traumatic event, and continues until feeling better. New thoughts and feelings may come up during this time.

Phase 5: After reducing sensitivity, we start strengthening a positive belief with the event until it feels completely true for the client.

Phase 6: While doing a body scan, the client is asked to think about the upsetting event and the positive belief while checking each part of their body for any remaining discomfort, which is then worked through.

Phase 7: ensures the client feels safe at the end and beginning of each session. It helps the client calm down after reprocessing, whether it's finished or not. Reprocessing is done when the client feels okay about the event, believes in positive things, and the body is not disturbed.

Phase 8: Reevaluation

At the start of each new session after reprocessing, the client and therapist talk about the memories worked on recently to make sure the client still feels okay and that the positive thoughts are still strong. They also figure out what to focus on next for ongoing treatment.

Reference:

SusannaKaufman. (n.d.). The Eight Phases of EMDR Therapy. EMDR International Association. https://www.emdria.org/blog/the-eight-phases-of-emdr-therapy/

EMDR can be used with all ages!  

Even young children have been shown to benefit from EMDR when there was an earlier distressing or traumatic event. 

EMDR can be a valuable therapeutic approach when integrated with play therapy for children. This combined method allows kids to explore and process their emotions in a nonverbal way, providing them with a safe and engaging space to work through their feelings. Through play sessions intertwined with reprocessing techniques, children can effectively address and manage their emotions.