EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a powerful type of therapy that is very fast, effective, and deeply healing. EMDR can bring about healing much faster than regular talk therapy. Initially EMDR was used primarily for trauma, but now is being successfully used for a wide variety of concerns. Some of the issues I use EMDR for include: trauma, disturbing memories, emotional eating, negative beliefs about oneself (i.e. "I'm not good enough), self-sabotage, and processing strong emotions like fear, shame, anger, and grief.
How does EMDR work?
EMDR uses bilateral (both sides) stimulation of the brain via eye movements, taps, or sounds while mentally focusing on specific thoughts, feelings, or memories. This stimulates both sides of the brain and allows the brain’s natural healing to be unstuck. When someone is very upset or traumatized, their brain doesn’t process information as it usually does and information gets “stuck”; which means remembering a trauma can feel as if it were happening again.
EMDR activates the brain’s natural healing and information-processing system. After EMDR, the person is still able to think about whatever was troubling them, but it is significantly less upsetting and loses the emotional "gut punch" feeling. Often people feel freed up and a sense of empowerment, action, or acceptance. Some hypothesize that EMDR works similarly to REM or rapid eye movement sleep, where the eyes move during dreams to help the brain process daily life events.
Covid update on EMDR therapy: When offering in person EMDR sessions I often use a "thera-tapper", a device that you can hold and it buzzes in each hand to stimulate both sides of the brain. Since I'm currently only seeing clients via telehealth, we can do EMDR a few different ways. Youtube has many videos with moving lights or alternating beats that I can have you look at and/or listen to while I guide you through a telehealth EMDR session. Or you can download EMDR apps to use on your phone. You can even just tap on your thighs or shoulders while we work together. I can also move my hands across the screen for you to follow with their eyes. If you decide to do EMDR I can explain the options and we can figure out together what will work best.
What can EMDR help with?
What is an EMDR session like? Typically in the beginning of an EMDR session we will spend a few minutes mapping out what we want to accomplish during the session. We’ll work together to choose a target memory or issue for you to think about during the EMDR and we’ll identify any related thoughts (both positive and negative) about yourself that this represents. During EMDR we’ll do a series of sets of either tapping or eye movements while you think about the target that we picked. Usually sets last about 30 seconds to a minute and then we stop and briefly talk about what came to your mind during the set. Often during EMDR people say they think about different aspects of the target memory or the related thoughts, and may feel related emotions. It can feel intense but is so worth it!
EMDR is an incredibly powerful mode of therapy and can be very helpful in a variety of situations. I am a Level 2 EMDR practitioner; contact me to talk about if EMDR could help you.
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