The power of the buzz word: EMDR therapy

There is a lot of mention and buzz everywhere lately about eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) whether it’s in the press, on TV, on Netflix, on podcasts or all over social media.

Indeed a lot of celebrities, including Prince Harry, have had EMDR and are all raving about it. But what exactly is it?

Well, EMDR therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that has been proven effective in treating individuals with trauma and various psychological disorders. Developed by Dr Francine Shapiro in the 1980s, EMDR integrates elements of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and somatic therapy. 

Somatic Therapy is a form of therapy that requires an awareness of what is going on inside the body, i.e. the physiological cues in response to a trigger or the physiological reactions that we have throughout the day to situations and our environment such as headaches, stomach aches, the tension in our neck, shoulders, or head etc.

EMDR is an evidence-based approach that has been recognised as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by several professional organisations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the NHS.

EMDR is a complex and multi-step process that involves the use of bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, to activate the brain's natural healing mechanisms. During an EMDR session, the client is asked to recall a traumatic event while simultaneously engaging in some form of bilateral stimulation, such as following the therapist's finger movements with their eyes. The therapist may also use other forms of bilateral stimulation, such as tapping or sounds, depending on the client's preferences and needs.

The goal of EMDR is to reprocess the traumatic memories and desensitise the individual's emotional response to them. This process involves accessing the traumatic memory, identifying negative beliefs and emotions associated with it, and then replacing them with more positive and adaptive beliefs and emotions.

EMDR also aims to help the individual develop more effective coping strategies and to integrate the traumatic experience into their life narrative. EMDR has been found to be effective in treating a wide range of psychological conditions, including PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, eating disorders, psychosis, etc.  Research has also shown that EMDR is hugely effective in treating complex trauma (C-PTSD), which refers to trauma that is ongoing or has occurred repeatedly over a long period of time, such as childhood abuse or neglect.

EMDR is a structured protocol-type therapy that always involves eight phases:

The first phase involves a comprehensive assessment of the client's history and current symptoms. The therapist and client then work together to identify specific memories that will be targeted during the therapy.

During the second phase, the therapist helps the client develop coping strategies to manage any distress that may arise during the therapy. This may include teaching relaxation techniques or other stress management strategies.

The third phase involves identifying the negative beliefs and emotions associated with the targeted memory. The client is asked to rate the intensity of these beliefs and emotions on a scale of 0-10, with 10 being the most intense and most distressing.

In the fourth phase, the therapist leads the client through a series of bilateral stimulation exercises while the client focuses on the traumatic memory. This may involve following the therapist's finger movements with their eyes or listening to a sound that alternates between the left and right ear.

The fifth phase involves asking the client to report any new thoughts, feelings, or sensations that arise during the bilateral stimulation exercises. The therapist then helps the client identify any positive or adaptive beliefs and emotions that may have emerged.

In the sixth phase, the therapist helps the client reprocess the traumatic memory by focusing on the positive or adaptive beliefs and emotions that emerged during the previous phase.

The seventh phase involves assessing the client's progress and addressing any remaining symptoms or issues. The therapist and client work together to develop a plan for continued healing and growth.

The final phase involves reflecting on the therapy process and identifying any changes or insights that have emerged. The therapist and client may also discuss ways to maintain the gains made during the therapy.

EMDR is a highly individualised therapy that can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. The number of sessions required can vary depending on the severity of the trauma and the client's response to the therapy. However, research has shown that EMDR is generally a shorter therapy than traditional talk therapies, with clients often experiencing significant improvements after just a few sessions. But it must be stressed everyone is different and so the number of sessions will differ from person to person.

EMDR can be tailored so a client can choose to either have intensive sessions (i.e. three to four hours of therapy per session) instead of having one to one and a half hours of therapy per session, thereby decreasing the length of time of the sessions (and having them over a shorter period of time). Of course, this can be hugely beneficial if a client wants to tackle their issues very quickly. Intensive EMDR therapy offers a personalised treatment plan that allows you the client to have accelerated therapy and thereby is designed to support your preferred schedule and timeline. Of course, as with everything there are pros and cons with this approach and it is therefore best to be discussed in depth with your therapist.

When I first found out about EMDR Therapy I embarked on it to rid myself of my phobia of spiders. After having had the therapy, off I went to Tropical Wings (which no longer exists and was an animal zoo-type place) which housed tarantulas to test it out. Yes, I am pleased to say I indulged in holding and handling tarantulas there. It has to be said that this was definitely something I never imagined in my wildest dreams I would or could do - bearing in mind I couldn't be in the same room with a money spider! So, I always recommend this form of therapy to any client who wishes to rid themselves of any lingering traumas they have been living with.
 
This is a subject I help clients with all the time, so if you are ready to make significant and powerful changes in your life like many of my clients (whose anonymous stories you can read about on the testimonials page of my website) or you’d like to learn more about how we can work together, then do get in touch by clicking the email me button below.

EMDR therapy can be used with Children as well as couples.