EMDR Therapy-What’s that?
Written By: Marissa Halstead
EMDR therapy is a counseling modality that many people have heard of, but many do not know exactly what it is. Books such as The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk helped EMDR therapy become more mainstream in the world of therapy. In this blog, I will give a broad overview of what EMDR therapy entails so that if you are interested, you have more information to work with.
What is it?
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, can sound intimidating at first. Developed in 1987 by Francine Shapiro, this therapy helps individuals heal from distressing events and unresolved traumatic memories. A key feature of EMDR therapy is that it uses bilateral stimulation, meaning it incorporates actions that stimulate both the left and right sides of the brain. The actions can be tapping your hands on your right then left leg, moving your eyes from one side to the other, buzzing your left than right hand with a device, sounds alternating in each ear, etc. While the actions are happening, clients process the distressing memories. EMDR therapy has eight phases which include: History-taking and Treatment Planning, Preparation, Assessment, Desensitization, Installation, Body Scan, Closure, and Reevaluation.
What does it do?
The overall goal of EMDR therapy is to eliminate the intensity of suffering from distressing memories or traumatic events. It helps individuals to soothe themselves and maintain a more accurate and positive sense of self. Through EMDR processing, clients often discover what they need to move forward positively. Finally, the brain stores the memory in a more adaptive, less distressing way, which reduces symptoms like anxiety.
It is also important to note what EMDR therapy does NOT do. EMDR therapy will not change the past, erase memories, cure psychopathology, or heal brain damage. I have had several clients in the past seeking EMDR therapy to erase their pain, which is something this therapy does not do. (In fact, no therapy can do this!) While EMDR does not erase pain, it does change it to be much less intense.
EMDR therapy effectively treats conditions like PTSD, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, abuse (emotional, physical, or sexual), phobias, grief and loss, and addictive behaviors, among others.
Interested?
If you’re interested in trying EMDR therapy with a trained therapist, I encourage you to explore it for yourself! Many Envision clients have found EMDR therapy to be very helpful. Here at Envision, we have two therapists who are trained and practice EMDR therapy. One is Timi Schuessler, LPC and myself, Marissa Halstead, LPC. If you feel stuck or overwhelmed, EMDR therapy could help.
