Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

(EMDR)

EMDR is a therapy protocol that helps our brains heal from trauma by asking clients to focus on a traumatic memory while experiencing bilateral stimulation (can be visual via eye-tracking a moving object, auditory via sounds in alternating ears, tactile via tapping on alternate sides of the body). While the protocol was developed by Francine Shapiro in the 1980s, the healing properties of bilateral stimulation is age-old, such as in indigenous drumming practices, tapping used in traditional medicine, etc. Research have shown that EMDR is an effective and efficient way of reprocessing and integrating trauma, helping to alleviate symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, panic attacks, depression. In my personal experiences, of undergoing EMDR therapy and in working with clients, EMDR therapy is a powerful tool in helping us move through traumatic material. Clients have tended to like it because it doesn’t require verbal retelling of traumatic events, it is highly structured and predictable, and because it works in making dramatic shifts.

Trauma is the result of an incident or a series of events that lead to harm, which can be physical, emotional, spiritual, or all of the above. While not every negative event we experience inevitably leads to trauma, and while many of us have learned to live with the aftermath of trauma, trauma can impact our self-perception and the ways in which we lead our lives and interact with others and the world. Many of my clients have had experiences of early of childhood trauma, which can look like emotional or physical abuse and neglect by caregivers; in adulthood, they may notice that even though they can function well in many ways, they have a hard time feeling secure in relationships, believing that they are good enough, and managing emotional reactions. People often would describe a phenomenon of logically understanding a fact about themselves but deep down not really believing it at all. For instance, someone who has survived a traumatic event can logically know that it is not their fault this happened, but may on a gut level blame themselves and believe that they are a bad person. Unfortunately, top-down, cognitive approaches (such as a therapy method that tells someone to challenge a negative thought, find evidence against it, or replace it with a positive one) have very limited impact on these deeply held beliefs. Yet, often, even one session of EMDR can create dramatic shifts on this front.

While EMDR looks quite different from the psychodynamic, talk-based therapy that I practice the most, I have been able to successfully integrate it in my work with clients. For instance we may work through specific memories over 2-3 sessions using EMDR as appropriate, and engage in more talk therapy other sessions. I can also provide EMDR as an adjunctive therapy to clients that are already in other forms of therapy to specifically target traumatic memories.

The EMDR International Association (https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/) ) has more educational material about this tool, and I am happy to answer any questions in a consultation.