EMDR Therapy: What it is and how it can help you heal

Many strides have been made in therapeutic modalities in recent years. While this is very exciting in the mental health world, it can also be overwhelming to get an idea of what certain modalities mean. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a very successful therapeutic practice that is used to process trauma. In the EMDR world, trauma is defined as anything that has happened to us in the past that continues to affect us in the present. This does not have to be the “typical” traumas one may think of, like a car accident or the death of a loved one. Trauma has an incredibly large range and, therefore, can affect millions of people daily. This article will give you a better idea of how EMDR works and how it can positively impact your life daily.

What is EMDR and How Does It Work?

EMDR was created by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987. EMDR has an 8-step model to help clients process things they were not able to process in the past. When you experience a traumatic event, your body often goes into fight or flight mode to get through the situation. It does not let you be present and process what is happening. Because of that, this trauma can remain in your body for reasons you may not understand or even realize. When a trigger happens in the present, your mind may be able to logically understand that you are not in danger, but your body takes you right back to that traumatic event. EMDR can bridge the gap between your mind and your body and allow you to fully process what happened in the past from an adult perspective. Traumatic memories are often attached to negative thoughts that you may have about yourself. Processing this trauma can help you see a different perspective about what happened and connect you with a positive thought about yourself instead.

We have covered the reprocessing part of EMDR, but the eye movement part of EMDR is important as well. While reprocessing a traumatic memory, your clinician will have you use bilateral stimulation (BLS) to access your memory networks. This can involve following your clinician’s fingers or tracking a ball on a screen. Some clients find it helpful to have a clicker in each hand that sends signals that way. These movements mimic REM sleep, which can help you access some of those memory channels and process accordingly.

How Can EMDR Help?

For someone who has either never done therapy or only participated in traditional talk therapy, EMDR can feel intimidating. However, your clinician had to complete many hours of training to get EMDR-certified. It is the clinician’s job to create a space where you feel safe to access and reprocess some of those traumatic memories. They will assure you that, while difficult, this process helps you move through the pain of these memories and decrease the weight that it has on your mind and your body in your everyday life. Being brave is an important part of the process, and you may amaze yourself by what you can handle. Honesty is an important part of the process as well. You may have some thoughts about wanting to do everything “correctly.” It is important to let go of all expectations and trust both your clinician and yourself that you will be able to get through this. Your clinician will also be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the EMDR process.

The aspect of processing trauma can be both intimidating and scary. These are often feelings that you have had to repress for many years of your life. EMDR is an amazing tool to help you feel like you can conquer these memories and the negative thoughts about yourself that are associated. While a very big step, it can help lead you to the life you have wanted, free of this burden.

For more support on this journey, explore our resources at Rust Wellness Group and take the first step towards healing today.