What is EMDR
You may have heard of EMDR as it’s becoming more well known. This technique was originally used on veterans after combat, but research has shown the TREMENDOUS effects on everyday issues! EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It's a psychotherapy technique primarily used to treat trauma-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it has also been adapted for other conditions like anxiety, depression, and phobias.
In EMDR therapy, the individual is guided by a trained therapist to recall distressing memories while simultaneously focusing on external stimuli, typically bilateral stimulation such as side-to-side eye movements, taps, or sounds. This bilateral stimulation is thought to activate the brain's natural healing processes, allowing the person to reprocess traumatic memories and reduce their emotional charge.
The therapy typically involves several phases:
1. History-taking and treatment planning: The therapist gathers information about the individual's history, symptoms, and treatment goals, and develops a plan for therapy.
2. Preparation: The individual learns relaxation techniques and coping skills to help them manage distressing emotions that may arise during therapy.
3. Assessment: The therapist identifies specific memories or experiences to target during the reprocessing phase.
4. Desensitization: The individual focuses on the targeted memories while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation. This phase aims to reduce the emotional intensity associated with the traumatic memories.
5. Installation: Positive beliefs and adaptive coping mechanisms are strengthened to replace negative beliefs associated with the trauma.
6. Body Scan: The individual checks in with their body to ensure there are no remaining physical sensations related to the targeted memory.
7. Closure: The session is brought to a close, and the individual is provided with techniques to manage any lingering distress between sessions.
8. Reevaluation: Progress is monitored, and additional targets may be identified for future sessions if needed.
We have a trained EMDR therapist at Pineapple Counseling. Reach out to our Flower Mound or Southlake office today!
