A Comprehensive Guide to
EMDR Therapy & PTSD Treatment
What Is EMDR And How Can It Help?
EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy. It has been extensively researched and is recognized as an effective treatment for trauma and a range of other mental health issues by organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
When it comes to addressing unprocessed traumatic events, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is highly effective. Compared to other forms of psychotherapy, EMDR often requires fewer sessions to achieve lasting results.
During EMDR sessions, the guided eye movements help the brain process and integrate traumatic memories, reducing the intensity of the associated emotional responses. This allows these memories to be stored in a way that no longer triggers distress.
EMDR therapy is effective for a range of conditions, including depression, anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, bipolar and dissociative disorders, eating disorders, grief and loss, PTSD, childhood trauma, physical and sexual abuse, substance abuse, addiction, and even chronic illnesses. These conditions often involve unresolved negative emotions that become "stuck" in the mind, overwhelming the brain’s normal processing abilities.
In EMDR extensive discussion about past experiences isn't necessary. There’s no homework between sessions and no complicated protocols to follow. Instead of forcing changes in thoughts, feelings, or beliefs, EMDR allows the brain’s natural healing process to release negative emotions effectively and naturally.
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story can make all the difference.”
How EMDR Therapy Provides Relief
People recognize EMDR for being more effective than most therapies, as it delivers rapid results. Traumatic memory can be remembered without feeling the intense emotions once again after concluding the processing.
Even kids can benefit from EMDR therapy because it doesn’t require them to go into detail about what happened. So long as they can follow simple instructions, you can start treatment.
Talk with your therapist to see if EMDR is a good fit for you and your specific needs.
EMDR and Your Brain
EMDR was founded in 1987 by Dr. Francine Shapiro. While she was studying as a graduate student, she discovered the therapy method while she was walking in a park. By moving her eyes quickly back and forth while focusing on negative thoughts, Shapiro noticed that the disturbance decreased.
Shaprio decided to put some more effort into researching what exactly happened with different eyes movements and their effect on thoughts, thus creating Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
In order to comprehend how EMDR works in the brain, we need to examine its effect on specific regions. You will be familiar with all of these brain regions if you have been one of my clients.
The Amygdala
Often referred to as the brain's alarm system, the amygdala prompts fear responses to perceived threats or stressful events. During EMDR sessions, clients focus on traumatic memories while undergoing sets of side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or tapping. Research suggests that these eye movements quiet down the amygdala and reduce fear responses associated with traumatic memories. This is why EMDR therapy is successful for conditions rooted in anxiety and fear.
The Hippocampus
The Hippocampus responsible for making new memories and processing information from short-term to long-term memory, but the hippocampus also manages what’s safe and dangerous. As a result of trauma, the hippocampus' volume can be reduced, impairing its function. EMDR therapy has been proven to help people recover from traumatic experiences and increase the volume of their hippocampus, a part of the brain that’s crucial for memory. Since depression is associated with a shrinking hippocampus, EMDR therapy could also be an effective treatment for depression.
The Prefrontal Cortex
The prefrontal cortex, responsible for behavior and emotion regulation, may play a crucial role in EMDR therapy's effectiveness. Research suggests that EMDR may reduce over-activation of the prefrontal cortex during trauma recall and promote increased grey matter volume and improved function. These findings indicate that EMDR therapy for children could enhance emotional regulation, confidence, and self-esteem.
What is Bilateral Stimulation?
Throughout her career, Dr. Shapiro has argued that bilateral eye movements are effective due to brain processes similar to Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. In theory, the repeated redirection of attention caused by the side-to-side eye movements, makes traumatic and emotionally charged memories seem less threatening and less overwhelming. As a result, the hippocampus and the amygdala reduce the power of memory and the negative emotions it transmits.
How EMDR Works in Practice
In practice, your therapist will follow a detailed protocol to guide you through the process of reducing and eliminating negative emotions associated with your traumatic memories, before moving on to identifying positive cognitions, such as going from a fear of flying to believing that it is a very safe mode of travel. By moving through your past memories and the present disturbances related to them, you can move forward positively.
"Processing" experiences doesn't necessarily mean talking about them. It's creating a state that allows traumatic experiences to be digested and stored properly in the brain. Useful information from your experiences is learned, and negative reactions are released.
A Step-by-Step Guide to the 8 Phases of EMDR Therapy
Frequently Asked EMDR Therapy Questions
How does EMDR work?
EMDR facilitates trauma processing by engaging bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, to help reprocess distressing memories, allowing individuals to integrate them into adaptive memory networks.
How Many Sessions Will It Take
EMDR therapy typically consists of six to 12 sessions, with some individuals needing fewer or more sessions depending on the severity and complexity of their trauma. Those with less integrated traumatic memories may require shorter treatment durations, while individuals with complex trauma histories may need additional therapy, including preparatory work in the initial phases of EMDR.
Is EMDR therapy safe?
Yes, EMDR therapy is considered safe when conducted by a trained therapist. It follows structured protocols to ensure client safety and effectiveness in trauma processing.
What is EMDR?
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a psychotherapy approach that helps individuals process distressing memories and associated emotions to alleviate symptoms of trauma-related conditions.
How long are EMDR sessions?
EMDR sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes. However, session duration may vary based on individual needs, therapeutic progress, and clinician discretion.
Is EMDR hypnosis?
No, EMDR is NOT hypnosis. It's a structured therapy approach grounded in evidence-based protocols, focusing on trauma reprocessing rather than inducing a hypnotic state.
Is EMDR therapy effective?
Yes, EMDR therapy is empirically validated and widely recognized as effective in rapidly treating trauma-related conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression, with research showing significant symptom reduction.