What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a psychotherapy treatment originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories (Shapiro, 1989a, 1989b).
Shapiro’s (2001) Adaptive Information Processing model posits that EMDR therapy facilitates the accessing and processing of traumatic memories and other adverse life experiences to bring these to an adaptive resolution.
After successful treatment with EMDR therapy, affective distress is relieved, negative beliefs are reformulated, and physiological arousal is reduced.
What is the EMDR Approach?
Therapist-directed lateral eye movements are the most commonly used external stimulus; however, various other stimuli, including hand-tapping and audio stimulation, are also often employed (Shapiro, 1991).
Shapiro (1995, 2001) hypothesizes that EMDR therapy facilitates access to the traumatic memory network, thereby enhancing information processing by forming new associations between the traumatic memory and more adaptive memories or information.
7 Phases of EMDR therapy.
EMDR Phase 1: The Therapist prepares the patient/client before initiating directed lateral eye movements. The therapist takes a thorough history of the client and develops a treatment plan.
EMDR Phase 2 – This is the phase of treatment where the therapist ensures that the client has several different ways of handling emotional distress during the therapy session. The therapist may teach the client various imagery and stress reduction techniques that the client can use during and between sessions. A goal of EMDR therapy is to produce rapid and effective change while the client maintains equilibrium during and between sessions.
EMDR Phase 3 – This is the Assessment and Reprocessing phase. A negative experience is isolated and targeted. This target is then properly identified and processed using EMDR therapy procedures. The client will identify a clear visual image related to the memory, a particular negative belief about themselves, and the related emotions.
EMDR Phase 4 – This is the Desensitization phase. It allows identifying and resolving similar events that may have occurred and are associated with the target.
EMDR Phase 5 – 6 – This phase focuses on strengthening and reinforcing the positive belief that the person has identified to replace their original negative belief.
Evaluations of thousands of EMDR sessions suggest that a physical response occurs in relation to unresolved thoughts.
Independent studies of memory have supported this finding, indicating that when a person is negatively affected by trauma, information about the traumatic event is stored in motoric (or body-based) memory rather than narrative memory and retains the negative emotions and physical sensations associated with the original event.
However, when that information is processed, it can then be transferred to narrative (or verbalizable) memory, and the associated body sensations and negative feelings disappear.
EMDR Phase 7 – In Phase 7, Closure, the therapist asks the client to keep a log for the week. The log should document any related material that may arise. It serves as a reminder to the client of the self-calming activities they mastered in Phase Two.
Conclusion
EMDR is probably your next option if you suffer from everyday memories that create low self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness, and all the myriad problems that go with most mood swings.
According to the EMDR Official Website, millions of people have been treated successfully over the past 25 years. After successful treatment with EMDR therapy, affective distress is relieved, negative beliefs are reformulated, and physiological arousal is reduced.
