"Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a treatment technique that was originally designed to help process Trauma, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder . Trauma is the result of a stressful event like abuse, sexual assault, combat, a natural disaster or a variety of other high-stress events getting stuck in the mind and remaining unprocessed. This can lead to symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance of things which are related to the event, agitation, being angry, being depressed, being easy startled, and other symptoms. EMDR treats trauma by helping the person integrate the memories, emotions and physical sensations associated with the trauma. This helps change negative thoughts about the event and reduces anxiety and other negative emotions associated with the memory. While processing using EMDR, the event is remembered while at the same time being aware of being in the present and being safe. Additionally, EMDR adds what is called Alternating Bilateral Stimulation (ABS). There are several forms of ABS that are possible: watching an object move back and forth with your eyes, listening to alternating tones from one side then the other with speakers or headphones, or feeling tactile pulsing/buzzing using a therapy tool like the TheraTapper (TM). Combining the elements of remembering the event, being aware of the present and, experiencing alternative bilateral stimulation allows the mind to be desensitized to the trauma of the event and reprocess the event as a manageable memory. This takes the previously stuck memory and integrates it, helping the body and mind know the event is over.
There are a variety of theories as to how EMDR works. We do not at this time fully understand how EMDR works and why it is effective with helping people manage challenging events and increase their well being. What we do know is that it does work and people feel better and are more functional as a result of EMDR therapy. Incidentally, this is also true of what we know about medications used to treat mental heath issues. We do not know exactly how they work either, just that they do.
One major difference between EMDR and traditional counseling is that the person receiving help does not need to verbalize anything of their experience. With talk therapy, the person will usually describe the event that happened out loud. With EMDR this is not necessary. As a client, you will be asked to remember the memory yourself, but you will not need to talk about the event to the counselor if you don"t want to. Some clients find it helpful to talk out loud as they are processing the memories they are working on, but the choice is yours.
Regarding choices, the control of directing the therapy is always in the hands of the client. One of the major issues that is frequently associated with trauma is a lack of control. With EMDR therapy, you will be asked to re-experience the event in your mind, but how long you spend working on the memory and what parts of the memory you bring up in your mind is up to you. The counselor is there to assist you, but if you need to stop or take a break you absolutely can. Working through trauma and challenging thoughts and emotions is tiring. Consider the work like an exercise routine, it can be hard and it will make you tired, but the results are greater health and greater strength.
How frequently and how long treatment takes place is also up to you. Some information to consider is that individuals who have experienced a single incident of trauma will likely not need as much therapy as an individual who has experienced multiple traumas throughout their life or over a prolonged period of time. Like physical healing, if there are more wounds that are more severe or chronic, more healing will be needed than for a single trauma."
Search Mental Health Providers Find Similar Resources