EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, therapy is a treatment intervention used for those struggling with traumatic memories. It originated back in the 1980s as a means of treating PTSD. Over the years, it has shown positive results with additional diagnoses.
EMDR differs from alternative methods by focusing on a person’s memories and not solely on emotions. After experiencing a trauma, there can be a disconnect in the way your brain stores memories. You can become triggered by sights, sounds, places, or situations that take you right back to the moment.
By targeting the original traumatic memories, you can reprogram the brain’s connections and find healing.
Phase One – Client History
The initial phase starts with providing your full history, including any medical, mental, or physical concerns. Anything from childhood to the present day is fair game.
In order for the EMDR treatment to be most effective, nothing will be off-limits for exploring—your family upbringing, major life events, interactions and relationships, and any traumas. The therapist chooses a target for treatment based on the information provided.
Phase Two – Client Preparation
Once you have your target memory, you will be prepped for the process to come. They will review how the intervention works, the procedure from start to finish, and the how/why. You want to be comfortable and feel safe for the treatment to work. It will be a very vulnerable place to be in, so your comfort and understanding are important.
Phase Three – Assessment
Activation of the target memory occurs during this phase through image, cognition, affect, and bodily sensation. The Subjective Units of Disturbance Scale asks you to rate how disturbing an emotion/feeling is, and the Validity of Cognition Scale asks how true specific words are; both use a 1-10 scale.
Phase Four – Desensitization
Bilateral stimulation is incorporated into the procedure to desensitize negatively charged memories. Typically, this includes eye movements, but can also be tactile cueing of some form. You follow a target with your eyes from side to side across your field of view.
Any thoughts that emerge during the process can be used in the next round of bilateral stimulation. Having dual attention shifts focus from the memory, and it continues until your reported intensity decreases.
Phase Five – Installation
At this point in the treatment, positive cognitive thoughts are installed to replace previously held negative ones. By reducing the intensity of your memory, space for peace and calm can begin to be made.
Phase Six – Body Scan
By the time you reach phase six, you will probably have some type of bodily response to treatment. You can do a body scan as a self-check for this. The therapist will ask you about any thoughts or feelings you had while focusing on the negative memory and the positive replacement thought.
Any further distress can be addressed with bilateral stimulation for further processing.
Phase Seven – Closure
For most memories, reaching this phase should bring you some resolve. There are some memories that live a little deeper in your brain and may require additional time to process.
If you’re experiencing any residual effects, the therapist will guide you through a process of containment to keep you feeling safe until the next session.
Phase Eight – Re-evaluation
In any subsequent sessions, you’ll go through a re-evaluation of your current state. Did the treatment effects continue after your session? Has anything new occurred that requires attention? If nothing emerges, then the EMDR was successful.