EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a mental health treatment technique that can enable recovery from challenges caused by experiencing traumatic life events.
Studies have shown that EMDR therapy helps some people make progress who were unsuccessful in talk therapy.
Key points
- EMDR has been shown to be effective in addressing traumatic experiences.
- EMDR is often less stressful than other forms of therapy.
- In some cases, you can experience tangible benefits relatively quickly.
- A single traumatic event can usually be processed in 3-6 sessions. More complex trauma typically requires 8-12 sessions.
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Overview of EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapeutic method designed to help individuals recover from panic attacks, trauma, and distressing memories. The approach uses rapid eye movements and your perceptions to re-process (transform) how you think about traumatic events, with the goal of desensitization to the effects of past trauma.
While it is not clear why EMDR is effective, there are a number of controlled trials and research studies that have shown that EMDR is effective.
What issues can EMDR treat?
EMDR is often used to treat:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma disorders.
- Anxiety — including panic attacks, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and phobias.
- Depression.
- Dissociative disorders.
- Eating disorders — including anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating.
- Hoarding.
- Personality disorders — including borderline personality, avoidant personality, and antisocial personality disorders.
What happens in EMDR
During an EMDR session, your therapist will guide you through a process that helps transform painful memories by engaging both your body and mind. The session focuses on targeting and reprocessing specific memories or events using EMDR techniques.
You’ll be asked to identify key aspects of the memory, including a related visual image, negative beliefs you associate with it, and the emotions and physical sensations it evokes.
While concentrating on the memory, your therapist will guide you through sets of bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or tapping. After each set, you’ll reflect on what comes to mind, which may lead to new insights or shifts in how you perceive the event, including changes in associated images, emotions, or beliefs.
When EMDR is effective, the emotional impact of the painful memory is significantly reduced, and its meaning may transform on a deeper level.
Typically, the process begins with a thorough assessment of your history. Alongside EMDR sessions, you’ll also learn coping strategies to manage any resurfacing memories, ensuring a holistic and supportive approach to healing.
What you can hope to gain in EMDR
The memory of past trauma can be triggered by sounds, smells, or sights. A flashback is your brain accessing a difficult memory in a way that is uncontrolled. The surfacing of traumatic memories can create overwhelming feelings — including panic, fear, or anger.
In EMDR you access memories of a traumatic event and “reprocess” your memory of that negative event.
Reprocessing enables “repairing” the emotional damage from that memory. The goal is that when you remember the trauma, you will no longer feel like are reliving the event. The feelings associated with the memory will be more manageable.
What are the upsides and downsides of EMDR?
- EMDR allows you to address issues without needing to delve into the details of your experiences.
- Many people experience noticeable progress faster than with other forms of therapy.
- Research and controlled trials support EMDR’s effectiveness in treating trauma-related challenges.
- It requires less work. EMDR doesn’t require journaling or homework between sessions.
EMDR also has limitations. The most important limitation is that EMDR has been shown to be effective when traumatic experiences are at the root of your difficulties.
Reach out today
Kate Smiley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California, specializing in the treatment of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma, and more. With specialized care and support, you can begin the path toward recovery and a healthier, more fulfilling life.
Contact Kate Smiley today to explore how EMDR can help you take meaningful steps toward your goals.
Related information
Mavranezouli, I., Megnin-Viggars, O., Daly, C., Dias, S., Welton, N.J., Stockton, S., Bhutani, G., Grey, N., Leach, J., Greenberg, N., Katona, C., El-Leithy, S.M., & Pilling, S. (2020). Psychological treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder in adults: a network meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 50, 542 – 555.
Perlini, C., Donisi, V., Rossetti, M.G., Moltrasio, C., Bellani, M., & Brambilla, P. (2020). The potential role of EMDR on trauma in affective disorders: A narrative review. Journal of affective disorders, 269, 1-11.
Perri, R.L., Castelli, P., La Rosa, C., Zucchi, T., & Onofri, A. (2021). COVID-19, Isolation, Quarantine: On the Efficacy of Internet-Based Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Ongoing Trauma. Brain Sciences, 11.
Website of The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA).