EMDR therapy involves guided eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation while a person briefly focuses on distressing memories, thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations. It is primarily used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other concerns associated with distressing or traumatic experiences. Preparation typically includes developing a treatment plan and identifying memories or experiences that may be addressed during therapy. Here is more information on the EMDR therapy process and science:
Understand Memory Processing
Distressing experiences often remain associated with emotional, cognitive, or physical responses after the original event. EMDR focuses on processing these experiences within a structured therapeutic approach rather than relying primarily on repeated verbal discussion. Treatment addresses memories and associated responses that relate to the concerns being treated. The process begins with identifying relevant experiences, thoughts, emotions, and physical responses.
Memory processing involves both the memory of an experience and the responses associated with it. A medical event or traumatic loss may be associated with anxiety or other distressing responses. EMDR sessions address these experiences through a structured treatment process that includes preparation, assessment, processing, and evaluation.
People seek EMDR for a range of concerns, including anxiety associated with traumatic experiences. Birth trauma, medical trauma, sexual trauma, and attachment-related trauma are also addressed in specialized trauma treatment. These experiences differ in their circumstances and effects; treatment focuses on the experiences and responses relevant to each individual rather than applying an identical process to every person.
Examine Bilateral Stimulation
Bilateral stimulation is a component of EMDR therapy. During this phase, the clinician guides the client’s attention while the client focuses on a selected memory or related material. Eye movements are one form of bilateral stimulation; alternating sounds and tapping are other forms used in EMDR treatment. These approaches provide alternating sensory input during the therapy process.
Bilateral stimulation is used while the client attends to aspects of a selected memory, including associated thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations. The clinician directs the stimulation and provides guidance throughout the process. The client observes the material associated with the memory without relying on extended verbal descriptions. Bilateral stimulation is incorporated into the structured processing of the selected experience.
Explore Nervous System Responses
Trauma-related experiences are associated with changes in nervous system responses, including heightened alertness, anxiety, and increased responses to reminders of the experience. These responses sometimes persist after the original event. EMDR therapy addresses experiences and responses identified during the therapeutic process, with attention to their relationship to memories, thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and daily functioning.
Physical and emotional responses occur alongside trauma-related concerns. Anxiety symptoms also show up in association with traumatic experiences and specific reminders or triggers. EMDR treatment addresses both the memories associated with these experiences and the responses identified during therapy. Here are a few types of experiences addressed in trauma-focused treatment:
- Medical trauma: Distress associated with a previous medical experience, procedure, diagnosis, or treatment.
- Birth trauma: Distress or other psychological responses associated with pregnancy, labor, delivery, or related medical care.
- Traumatic loss: Grief and other responses associated with the circumstances or memories surrounding a person’s death.
- Accident-related trauma: Psychological or physical responses following a distressing accident.
- Trauma-related anxiety: Anxiety associated with a traumatic experience, reminders of the experience, or specific triggers.
Learn More About EMDR Therapy
Understanding the experiences associated with current emotional responses is a key part of developing a treatment focus in EMDR therapy; this information provides context when addressing concerns related to grief and attachment. Discussing relevant experiences during an initial consultation also provides information for determining whether EMDR is appropriate for the concerns being addressed. Schedule a consultation with a qualified mental health professional to discuss whether EMDR therapy suits your treatment needs.
