EMDR: Overview Of the Treatment and What to Expect

What Is EMDR?

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, was invented in the late 1980s by Dr. Francine Shapiro. The origin story is instructive: she noticed while walking on a trail that her eyes were moving rapidly back and forth, and that this seemed to reduce the distress associated with troubling thoughts she was having. This observation led to decades of research and the development of a structured, evidence-based therapy protocol.

Today, EMDR is recognized by the American Psychological Association, the World Health Organization, and the Department of Veterans Affairs as an effective treatment for PTSD and trauma.

How Does EMDR Work?

EMDR is based on the premise that traumatic memories can become "stuck" in the brain, frozen in an unprocessed state that makes them feel as vivid and threatening as when they first occurred. Bilateral stimulation (typically guided eye movements, but also tapping or auditory tones) appears to activate the brain's natural information processing system, allowing the memory to be reprocessed and integrated in a less distressing way.

Think of it like REM sleep, the phase of sleep during which the brain naturally processes the day's experiences. EMDR seems to replicate and amplify this natural processing mechanism.

The Eight Phases of EMDR

1. History-taking: Understanding your history and identifying target memories for processing.
2. Preparation: Building the therapeutic relationship and teaching distress tolerance skills.
3. Assessment: Identifying the specific image, belief, emotion, and body sensation associated with the target memory.
4. Desensitization: Processing the memory using bilateral stimulation until distress decreases.
5. Installation: Strengthening a positive belief associated with the memory.
6. Body scan: Checking for residual physical tension.
7. Closure: Returning to a state of equilibrium at the end of each session.
8. Reevaluation: Reviewing progress at the start of subsequent sessions.

What to Expect

EMDR feels different from traditional talk therapy. Sessions are more experiential and less verbal. Many clients are surprised at how much can shift without having to extensively narrate or analyze their trauma. Most people notice a meaningful reduction in the emotional intensity of target memories within several sessions, though the total number of sessions varies depending on the individual and the complexity of their trauma history.

All EMDR therapists at Ally Psych are specifically trained and experienced in this modality. If you're curious about whether EMDR might be right for you, contact us to discuss it.