By Emmanuella Umoye
EMDR, also known as Eye Memory Desensitization and Reprocessing is a Psychotherapy treatment that involves a client overcoming the impact of a traumatic event through them recalling that memory while observing an external stimulus. These external stimuli can be lateral movements of the therapist's finger or a light tapping sound.
EMDR was discovered by Francine Shapiro in 1987 while she was walking through the park. While Francine pondered about some distressing occurrences, she noticed her annoyance and anxiety gradually dissipated as her eyes moved laterally. Upon realizing this, she decided to look more into the cause of her lessened anxiety over a traumatic event and thus, EMDR was born.
What sets EMDR apart from traditional psychotherapy treatments is the fact that the client doesn’t have to relate their experience or event to the therapist. The client is also more actively engaged during the session.
According to Ricky Greenwald, PsyD, affiliate professor at the SUNY University at Buffalo School of Social Work and executive director of the Trauma Institute & Child Trauma Institute, since the trauma survivor is concentrating on the memory along with something external, it creates a dual focus that allows the individual to be both in the memory and an observer of it at the same time. It thereby relieves the client of present triggers of that traumatic memory.
EMDR occurs in 8 phases which involve the past, present and future. The past deals with the event itself, the present deals with triggers of the memory of that event, and the future deals with methods to accept oneself after the event.
Phase 1: Involves the client and the therapist discussing the client's trauma history. This helps them identify a specific memory or event to work on and for the client to heal from.
Phase 2: The client is given calming techniques that lessens their anxiety. Also, the client creates positive affirming words that they use throughout their session to ensure that they are in control of every negative feeling of self that may arise.
Phase 3: The therapist selects a memory to focus on during the session.
Phase 4-7: The client begins to visualize the previously selected memory, gaining awareness of their body sensations and emotions. As the client recalls this memory, the therapist focuses their eye movements bilaterally in response to the external stimuli. Subsequently, the client is asked to let their mind go blank with them focusing on the feelings that arise from those memories. As they do so, they’re encouraged to apply those positive affirmations and calming techniques they were taught earlier. This session is then repeated for the remainder of the phases.
Phase 8: At the end of the session, the client shares their current feelings towards that event. At the end of a successful session, the client feels empowered and motivated by their circumstances rather than constant self-loathing. They no longer consider those traumatic memories as things to be hidden, but embrace them and see them as vessels that make them stronger.
You may ask, since it’s such a traumatic event, why should the client have to reprocess it? Well, the EMDR process occurs similarly to REM sleep such that the client is aware of the memories, but not entirely. By focusing on the external stimulus, their mind is actively going through those memories while their attention is partially diverted from it.
More research is being conducted into EMDR and why it works the way it does. It will be noted that EMDR works best with single-trauma victims because of the less distressing memories they have to remember. Studies show that 84%-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have post-traumatic stress disorder after only three 90-minute sessions.
While EMDR seems like such an easy technique that can be applied by just anyone, it’s important that it is administered by a specifically trained therapist in EMDR.
Questions?
1. What is EMDR?
EMDR, also known as Eye Memory Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a psychotherapy treatment that involves the client visualizing and processing a traumatic event to enable them to overcome it.
2. Who discovered EMDR?
Francine Shapiro in 1987.
3. How many phases are there in EMDR? There are eight phases in EMDR.
Phase 1:
The client and therapist go over the history of their trauma.
Phase 2:
The therapists give the client technique to lessen their anxiety throughout the session e.g deep breaths and create a positive affirmation to use throughout the session.
Phase 3:
A specific memory that relates to the traumatic event is selected to be focused on.
Phase 4-7:
The client begins to reprocess that specific memory while their eyes are moving bilaterally.
Phase 8:
The session is concluded with the client relating any new changes they feel about their traumatic experience.
Text Sources:
Emdria.org: Experiencing EMDR Therapy
Emdr.com: What is EMDR?
Florida Rehab: EMDR Therapy for SUD : Benefits & Effectiveness | The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health
Image Source: