EMDR is a specialized form of therapy that helps people to overcome the lasting effects of trauma. This is one of the most highly-preferred therapy models used at Igniting Change Counseling as clients report such positive results with it.
In very simple terms, the EMDR process involves accessing a traumatic memory while experiencing a form of bilateral (side-to-side) stimulation (e.g., eye movement, tapping, sound, or handheld vibrating devices). While it is a form of exposure, it does not require detailed verbal descriptions of a traumatic event, which allows for healing without retraumatization.
As a highly-researched, evidence-based therapy approach, EMDR has been utilized since the 1980s as a very impactful method in promoting healing. It utilizes the brain’s own naturally-occurring ability to problem-solve and update information about traumatic experiences so that pain and disturbance related to trauma is eliminated or highly-reduced (desensitization). It can also be used to address current and future-oriented fears.
The “reprocessing” part of treatment occurs when negative beliefs that stem from a traumatic experience - especially about the person who has experienced the trauma - shift into a positive belief. For example, a person may subconsciously develop a negative self-belief such as “I am not good enough,” and with EMDR treatment, the person can shift into a positive conscious belief such as “I am good enough.”
In simple terms, EMDR helps the brain reprocess "stuck" traumatic memories, allowing them to be stored properly as an event in the past rather than replayed repeatedly. This is particularly helpful for diagnoses like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR focuses directly on the memory's physical and emotional sensation to change how it is stored, rather than attempting to address trauma through thoughts or behaviors only. EMDR can go beyond the “thinking” parts of the brain to access and update the meaning of stored information directly. A person still remembers the past, but the meaning of the experience is updated to help the brain respond to it in a more adaptive way.
The original form of EMDR created by American psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro utilizes lateral eye movement as a form of bilateral stimulation to help desensitize a painful experience or feared future reality. This kind of process already naturally occurs in humans when we sleep (this is a sleep phase called “REM sleep” in which the eyes move rapidly from side-to-side), which activates problem-solving and healing subconsciously.
Other forms of bilateral stimulation besides eye movement have been developed for use in EMDR, including the use of sound and touch. At Igniting Change Counseling, we utilize several methods based on what is most comfortable for the client.
Since individual treatment needs vary significantly, there is no exact timeframe for completing EMDR treatment. However, individual traumatic events can often be resolved within 1–3 sessions.
Contact Igniting Change Counseling Center today at (801) 806-4878 to see if EMDR is a good fit for you!