Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
What is EMDR?
EMDR involves using eye movements, tapping, or other forms of bilateral stimulation to help the client process traumatic experiences and reduce the intensity of associated emotions and symptoms. During a typical EMDR session, the client is asked to recall a traumatic memory while also following a set of back-and-forth eye movements or other forms of stimulation. The therapist then guides the client in processing the memory, which can help to reprocess the traumatic experience and reduce associated negative emotions.
EMDR has been found to be effective in treating a range of trauma-related conditions, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, phobias, addictions, and much more. EMDR sessions may be administered over several weeks or months, depending on the presenting problems.
EMDR has been found to be effective in treating a range of trauma-related conditions, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, phobias, addictions, and much more. EMDR sessions may be administered over several weeks or months, depending on the presenting problems.
Benefits and Risks of EMDR
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Benefits:
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Risks:
EMDR is considered to be a safe form of therapy with very few side effects. However, because this technique requires recalling a disturbing moment in time, it can be triggering as patients bring up those memories. EMDR may also trigger vivid dreams and can be emotionally stressful. These side effects will typically dwindle as the therapy continues. |
Treatment Areas:
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The 8 Phases of Treatment
- History-taking: In this phase, your therapist obtains a detailed history of your past memories and current struggles, which allows the clinician to target your therapy. During this phase, your therapist will try and identify targets for the EMDR processing (these can be distressing memories or incidents).
- Client preparation: This is where a relationship between therapist and client is fostered to set expectations for treatment. It’s also when the client learns techniques for active healing trauma processing during and between sessions—your therapist will make sure you have strategies, or resources, to deal with emotional distress.
- Assessment: In this phase, the patient is asked to picture an image closely related to the target memory and to elicit the negative response and beliefs associated with the memory. You’ll also be asked to identify a positive belief you would like to believe instead, which you will rate alongside your negative emotions.
- Desensitization: Changing the negative associations with the memory starts to take place in this stage through bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation consists of alternating right and left stimulation, whether it’s tapping of the toes or tapping on the shoulders. It can also include audio or visual stimulation with the use of light. This is a key element, “even more so than the eye movements." This is a treatment element of EMDR, activating both hemispheres of the brain, which is believed to have many soothing effects such as speeding up the rate of processing. This continues until that memory is no longer triggering for the client.
- Installation: This is where the client starts to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts, with the help of the therapist. The idea here is not to clear out the memory, but the trauma response associated with that memory. For example, if the targeted memory of the client was of a car accident and feeling helpless, then in the desensitization phase, the feeling of helplessness should decrease. In this phase, a positive belief like “I am in control” is installed and deepened.
- Body scan: In this stage, the client is assessed for changes in body sensations when thinking of the negative incident and positive thought. This is very important, since we store our traumatic memories as sensations in our bodies as well. Any remaining tension in the body is targeted by the therapist for additional processing.
- Closure: To end the session, the therapist will implement self-control techniques to bring the patient back to a place of ease after recalling traumatic thoughts. Patients will be asked to write down any thoughts or emotions that arise during the coming week, and will be reminded of the self-soothing techniques they learned during the session to process any negative thoughts that may surface.
- Reevaluation: This phase is to review and/or assess for other targets that cause distressing emotion within the chosen memory. You’ll be able to assess the progress made and tackle any related events that cause distress.
| EMDR Client Handout |
Window of Tolerance
The window of tolerance is a term used in psychology and trauma therapy to describe the range of emotional and physiological states that a person can tolerate without becoming overwhelmed or dysregulated. It refers to the optimal level of arousal where a person is able to function effectively, cope with stressors, and engage in meaningful relationships.
When a person is within their window of tolerance, they are able to experience a wide range of emotions and sensations without feeling too overwhelmed or too shut down. They are able to respond to challenges and stressors in a flexible and adaptive way, and can process information in a clear and coherent manner.
However, when a person's level of arousal becomes too high (hyperarousal) or too low (hypoarousal), they can become dysregulated, and may experience symptoms such as anxiety, panic, dissociation, or depression. When a person is outside of their window of tolerance, they may find it difficult to cope with stressors, regulate their emotions, or maintain relationships.
Trauma can often lead to a narrowing of the window of tolerance, making it more difficult for a person to manage their emotions and arousal levels. Trauma-informed therapies aim to help individuals expand their window of tolerance by teaching them skills for self-regulation, emotional processing, and stress management. By learning to stay within their window of tolerance, individuals can improve their ability to cope with stress and adversity, and enhance their overall well-being.
When a person is within their window of tolerance, they are able to experience a wide range of emotions and sensations without feeling too overwhelmed or too shut down. They are able to respond to challenges and stressors in a flexible and adaptive way, and can process information in a clear and coherent manner.
However, when a person's level of arousal becomes too high (hyperarousal) or too low (hypoarousal), they can become dysregulated, and may experience symptoms such as anxiety, panic, dissociation, or depression. When a person is outside of their window of tolerance, they may find it difficult to cope with stressors, regulate their emotions, or maintain relationships.
Trauma can often lead to a narrowing of the window of tolerance, making it more difficult for a person to manage their emotions and arousal levels. Trauma-informed therapies aim to help individuals expand their window of tolerance by teaching them skills for self-regulation, emotional processing, and stress management. By learning to stay within their window of tolerance, individuals can improve their ability to cope with stress and adversity, and enhance their overall well-being.