Let’s Break Down EMDR Together
EMDR, or (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), is a type of therapy that focuses on treating PTSD, depression, anxiety and other phobias or anything that has happened that keeps you from living your life fully.
When our brain stores a normal memory, it does so smoothly, ensuring it is properly stored and linked to other memories. During a traumatic event, your brain may disrupt the storage process, causing there to be a disconnect between what you experience and the memory that your brain stores. The trauma imprints on your brain and your body until it can be resolved. This is how certain traumatic experiences link up to others, reinforcing rumination of negative beliefs, thoughts and feelings.
The process involves watching a blue light move back and forth while your therapist prompts you through a step-by-step process in an attempt to reprocess uncomfortable or traumatic memories.
The goal of EMDR is to break this cycle by taking you through an eight-step process that helps you reprocess these traumatic memories. During a session, the therapist will ask you to recall a distressing memory while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation is the process of engaging both sides of your body. This process helps the brain to reorganize the traumatic memory, making it feel less overwhelming over time.
EMDR is very different from talk therapy, as it does not have to involve talking. Talking can sometimes strengthen the neural pathways that we need to rewire. This makes it a much more accessible and attractive option for a lot of individuals. The goal of EMDR is to make an otherwise difficult and painful memory “boring.
The eight-step process of EMDR happens over multiple sessions:
Step 1: Patient history and information gathering, which consists of your practitioner determining if EMDR is right for you and hearing a little bit about the memories you would like to focus on.
Step 2: Preparation and education which is where the therapist tells you what to expect for future EMDR sessions.
Step 3: Assessment, where the therapist helps you identify themes and memories that you may want to work on during reprocessing.
Step 4: Desensitization and reprocessing is when the therapist activates your memory by helping you identify one or more negative images, thoughts, feelings and body sensations.
Step 5: Installation is the step where you focus on the positive belief you want to build in as you process a memory.
Step 6: Body scan is having you focus on the sensations and feelings that you can identify when you think about the negative memory.
Step 7: Closure and stabilization. During this phase, your therapist teaches you how to stabilize yourself if you have negative thoughts or feelings during the time between sessions.
Stage 8: Re-evaluation and continuing care. This involves recapping the progress you have made, which helps to determine if you need additional sessions. These steps work very effectively and allow patients to efficiently rework traumatic memories.
EMDR has been proven to be very effective, specifically in clients with PTSD. Research on EMDR includes dozens of clinical trials, research studies and academic papers. It has official approval from the World Health Organization, and its training is funded by the Canadian government. EMDR is effective for adolescents, teenagers and adults of all ages. Overall, EMDR is proven to work and is very low risk, making it a very effective treatment.
Your “easy to talk to therapist”
Kimberly Castle, MTC, RCS, SEP(In training)
Kimberly Castle is a Registered Counsellor with a private practice in beautiful Kelowna, BC. She focuses on Kelowna Counselling Solutions to empower individuals in all areas of their life. In her practice, she and her team work with individuals on various topics, including trauma, self-esteem, and counselling for children.
Blog contribution by Olson Russello, an undergraduate student at the University of Washington
