EMDR THERAPY: FOR ANXIETY, PANIC, PTSD AND TRAUMA

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) if a psychotherapy technique used to treat anxiety, PTSD, and more.

In 1990 psychologist Francine Shapiro developed a new type of psychotherapy known as EMDR. EMDR therapy is an effective treatment option for people suffering from anxiety, panic, PTSD or trauma. It is a way to get past your past.

According to the EMDR Research Foundation, EMDR has been clinically validated by more than 30 randomized, controlled studies.

EMDR is an integrative psychotherapy approach. It includes a set of standardized protocols that incorporate elements from many different treatment approaches and has relieved psychological trauma for millions of people of all ages.

WHAT IS EMDR?

EMDR therapy is a phased, focused approach to treating trauma and other symptoms by reconnecting the traumatized person in a safe and measured way to the images, self-thoughts, emotions, and body sensations associated with the trauma, and following the natural healing powers of the brain to move toward adaptive resolution.

It is based on the idea that when trauma and other negative or challenging experiences occur, these negative feelings overwhelm the brains’ natural ability to heal. The healing process can be facilitated through the bilateral stimulation while the client is thinking of the traumatic event or the beliefs they developed as a result of the trauma. Obviously, this needs to be done in the context of a safe environment.

HOW DOES EMDR WORK?

Through EMDR, individuals are able to safely process the traumatic information until it is no longer psychologically disruptive in their lives. Over time, the exposure to the traumatic memories will no longer induce negative feelings and distressing symptoms.

The eight phases of treatment include:

·         History Taking

·         Client Preparation

·         Assessment

·         Desensitization

·         Installation

·         Body Scan

·         Closure

·         Reevaluation of Treatment Effect

During EMDR, the person being treated focuses on a disruptive memory and identifies the belief they hold about themselves as a result of the trauma. If it is connected to a negative memory the technique teaches the person to change their views of themselves by learning to associate it with a positive belief instead.

All the sensations and emotions associated with the memory are identified. The individual then reviews the memory while focusing on an external stimulus that creates rapid (or bilateral) eye movement. This is done by watching a light bar, alternating audio beeps, or holding vibrating buzzers. After each set, the individual checks in about what they notice (images, thoughts, feelings or body sensations).

The process continues until the trauma has been processed and the memory is no longer disturbing to the individual. The previously selected positive belief is then “installed” via bilateral movement, which replaces the previously held negative belief.

Sessions typically last for one hour. It is theorized that the bilateral stimulation associated with EMDR bypasses the area of the brain that processes memories, which is where the trauma is stuck. When a difficult memory is stuck, it prevents the brain from properly processing and storing the memory.

During EMDR, individuals process the memory safely which leads to a peaceful resolution. The experience results in increased awareness regarding both previously disturbing events and the negative beliefs held about themselves that grew from the trauma.

WHO IS EMDR APPROPRIATE FOR?

According to the EMDR Research Foundation, over 30 case studies have documented the effectiveness of EMDR for trauma such as rape and sexual abuse, combat trauma, childhood trauma and neglect, life-threatening accidents, and symptoms such as anxiety, depression and substance abuse.

DOES EMDR THERAPY ACTUALLY WORK?

According to the EMDR Institute, some of the studies on this type of therapy show that 84-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have post-traumatic stress disorder after only three 90 minute EMDR sessions.

Another study by the HMO Kaiser Permanente discovered that 100% of single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims no longer were diagnosed with PTSD after only six 50 minute sessions. In another study, 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD in 12 sessions.

What is different about this type of therapeutic intervention, is that the client does not have to converse to the therapist about the trauma.

Following EMDR, it is not unusual for sleep to be impacted. Vivid dreams are common as well as feeling more sensitive to interactions with others and to external stimuli.