EMDR Therapy: Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, is a comprehensive form of trauma therapy that assists individuals in processing and recovering from past experiences that impact their mental health and wellbeing.
This therapy employs side-to-side eye movements in conjunction with talk therapy, following a specific and structured format.
EMDR helps individuals process the negative images, emotions, beliefs, and body sensations linked to traumatic memories that feel unresolved. These unresolved memories can contribute to a variety of mental health issues.
By engaging in EMDR therapy, you can gain a new perspective on your experiences and alleviate the symptoms you have been suffering from.
What can EMDR therapy help with?
EMDR therapy, also known as Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, was developed primarily as a treatment for trauma and is best recognized for its effectiveness in addressing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This form of trauma therapy is endorsed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a valid treatment for PTSD.
However, EMDR therapy can also assist with a variety of mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, addictions, behavioral difficulties, relationship issues, and more severe mental illnesses such as psychosis and personality disorders.
How does EMDR therapy work? EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, follows a structured approach where a therapist guides you through several stages. These stages include assessing your current symptoms, your readiness for EMDR therapy, and exploring how your past experiences have shaped your present.
Your therapist will clarify why you're experiencing these symptoms and explain the impact of trauma on the mind, which can feel overwhelming and persistent.
The next phase of the trauma therapy involves accessing traumatic memories and initiating bilateral stimulation. This process stimulates either side of your brain in an alternating left-right pattern to help you tap into your subconscious mind and process stored memories and their effects on you.
This stimulation can be achieved through side-to-side eye movements, alternating sounds in headphones, or tapping on either side of your body. The eye movements resemble the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep we experience while dreaming.
Your therapist facilitates the initiation of your natural healing process, allowing you to reframe negative or traumatic memories so that they no longer feel distressing.
Many individuals find that approximately six sessions of EMDR therapy can lead to significant improvements, although those with more complex trauma may need additional sessions.
Please refer to this video for more information about EMDR therapy.
EMDR Therapy and Trauma to Adults
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