Is EMDR right for me?
EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing
Welcome to the world of EMDR—Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing! Think of it as a super-charged brain workout, designed to help you process and overcome past trauma. It is a multistep process which helps process traumatic memories, much akin to exposure therapy.
With EMDR, a therapist will use guided eye movements to unlock and rewire those stuck memories and negative beliefs. It’s like clearing out the cobwebs in your mind, making space for healing and positive growth.
Process of EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy is an 8-step process, helping clients process and integrate traumatic experiences for lasting healing.
If you have any more questions or need further details, feel free to ask!
1
History Taking and Treatment Planning
The therapist gathers information about the client's history and identifies potential targets for treatment, such as past traumatic events, current triggers, and future goals.
2
Preparation
The therapist educates the client about EMDR and teaches stress-reduction techniques to help manage emotional disturbances that may arise during therapy.
3
Assessment
The therapist identifies the specific memories that will be targeted and assesses the client's current emotional response to these memories.
4
Desensitization
The client focuses on the traumatic memory while the therapist uses bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movements, taps, or tones) to help process the memory. This continues until the client's distress is reduced.
5
Installation
The therapist helps the client strengthen positive beliefs related to the traumatic memory until they feel fully true.
6
Body Scan
The client is asked to scan their body for any residual negative sensations related to the memory. If any are found, the therapist continues bilateral stimulation until they are cleared.
7
Closure
The session ends with techniques to ensure the client feels stable and calm. This may include grounding exercises or a brief discussion of the session's content.
8
Reevaluation
In subsequent sessions, the therapist and client review the progress made and assess whether any new memories need to be targeted.