Traumatic events can have lasting effects on our mental and emotional health. Memories of a traumatic event can be intrusive, making it difficult to move forward in life. Thankfully, there are methods for helping individuals cope with these trauma-related issues. One such method is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Let’s take a look at what EMDR therapy is, how it works, and who it can help.
What is EMDR Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a type of psychotherapy that was developed in the late 1980s by Francine Shapiro as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It helps people process traumatic memories so that they no longer cause distress or interfere with daily life. EMDR therapy operates on the premise that negative thoughts and emotions associated with traumatic events can be reprocessed in order to reduce their emotional impact.
How Does It Work?
During an EMDR session, the therapist will ask you to focus on a negative thought or emotion while simultaneously engaging in side-to-side eye movement exercises (such as following the therapist’s finger back and forth). This triggers your brain’s natural healing response by allowing your brain to “reprocess” the traumatic event through its normal information processing system. The goal of this process is to reduce psychological distress associated with the event while increasing insight into how your current thoughts, behaviors, and emotions may be connected to past experiences.
Who Can Benefit From EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy has been proven effective in treating PTSD as well as other types of anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, substance abuse problems, self-esteem issues, anger management problems, relationship problems due to unresolved trauma from childhood or adulthood experiences.
It has also been used successfully in helping victims who have experienced physical or sexual abuse or assault heal from their trauma. In addition to these more serious issues, EMDR therapy can also benefit those who struggle with everyday stressors such as work/school/family pressures or feelings of guilt or low self-esteem.
Types of EMDR Therapy
There are several different types of EMDR therapy that vary depending on the person’s individual needs, as well as their comfort level with the treatment approach. These include:
Standard Protocol EMDR
This is the most commonly used type of EMDR and it involves 8 phases. The therapist will work with the client to identify a target memory or traumatic event, assess any related emotions or physical sensations, and use eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to help the client reprocess the traumatic experience.
Adaptive Information Processing (AIP)
This form of EMDR is more focused on helping clients process information from all areas of life—not just from traumatic events—and create adaptive responses to challenging situations. It includes 10 steps instead of 8 and it requires a lot more cognitive processing than the standard protocol EMDR.
Attachment-Focused EMDR
This type of EMDR focuses on helping people heal from childhood trauma by addressing attachment issues, such as insecure attachments or disruptions in bonding relationships with caregivers during infancy or early childhood. In this type of therapy, the therapist will work with the client to identify patterns in their behavior that may be linked to unresolved attachment issues from childhood, then use eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to help them reprocess those experiences in a new way so they can create healthier attachments in their adult lives.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an evidence-based form of psychotherapy that has been found effective for treating trauma-related disorders like PTSD as well as depression and anxiety.
Through this method, therapists guide clients through processing traumatic experiences in order for them to more effectively heal from them by utilizing various techniques like eye movement tracking and grounding exercises to help reduce symptoms experienced due to trauma such as flashbacks or nightmares.
If you are looking for ways to cope with unresolved traumas from your past, then consider working with an experienced therapist who specializes in EMDR therapies so you can start down the path toward healing today!
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