This structured therapy encourages the patient to briefly focus on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which reduces the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a relatively new, nontraditional type of psychotherapy. However, it's growing in popularity, particularly for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD often occurs after experiences such as military combat, physical assault, rape, or car accidents.
An Overview of EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy (Shapiro, 2001) was initially developed in 1987 for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is guided by the Adaptive Information Processing model (Shapiro 2007). EMDR is an individual therapy typically delivered one to two times per week for a total of 6-12 sessions, although some people benefit from fewer sessions. Sessions can be conducted on consecutive days.
The Adaptive Information Processing model considers symptoms of PTSD and other disorders (unless physically or chemically based) to result from past disturbing experiences that continue to cause distress because the memory was not adequately processed. These unprocessed memories are understood to contain the emotions, thoughts, beliefs, and physical sensations that occurred at the event. When the memories are triggered, these stored disturbing elements are experienced and cause PTSD and other disorders.
At first glance, EMDR appears to approach psychological issues unusually. It does not rely on talk therapy or medications. Instead, EMDR uses a the client's rapid, rhythmic eye movements. These eye movements dampen the power of emotionally charged memories of past traumatic events.
Unlike other treatments that focus on directly altering the emotions, thoughts, and responses resulting from traumatic experiences, EMDR therapy focuses directly on the memory. It is intended to change how memories are stored in the brain, thus reducing and eliminating problematic symptoms.
During EMDR therapy, clinical observations suggest that an accelerated learning process is stimulated by EMDR’s standardized procedures, which incorporate the use of eye movements and other forms of rhythmic left-right (bilateral) stimulation (tones or taps). While clients briefly focus on the trauma memory and simultaneously experience bilateral stimulation the vividness and emotion of the memory are reduced.
The EMDR Session
EMDR therapy sessions are typically held once a week for 60-minutes. They can also be held on consecutive days in some cases. This takes place in a structured, open, and supportive environment.
The core feature of EMDR is bilateral stimulation, most commonly using guided eye movements, but sometimes auditory tones or tactile sensations are used. The belief is that this stimulation helps the brain reprocess the memory, rendering it less distressing.
The Eight Stages of EMDR
- History taking and treatment planning
- Preparation
- Assessment
- Desensitization
- Installation
- Body Scan
- Closure
- Reevaluation
