Before my EMDR training, my grasp of the link between emotions and bodily experiences was basic. I quickly learned the importance of both therapist and client recognizing and addressing these elements for effective EMDR processing. Although enthusiastic about this discovery, convincing some clients to engage with their emotions and bodily sensations proved challenging.
Preparation Strategies
Clients often resist delving into uncomfortable emotions with the common refrain, “I feel fine, why would I want to feel that?” My response highlights the therapeutic goal beyond enjoying my company or office: to address underlying issues they may have diagnosed themselves or have been professionally diagnosed with.
I start by helping clients connect their emotions to physical sensations—reminding them why we call them “feelings” because we feel them somewhere in the body. For those struggling to make this connection, I reintroduce them to their bodily sensations through gentle experiential exercises. Resourcing is beneficial here, providing a positive introduction to bodily awareness.
Redefining Emotions with Sandra Paulsen’s Framework
A handout from Sandra Paulsen’s training has been invaluable. It categorizes what are often deemed “bad” emotions (fear, disgust, guilt, shame, sadness) as life-preserving, and “good” emotions (love, hope, happiness, joy, lust) as life-enhancing. This redefinition helps clients see all emotions as beneficial, encouraging them to work with them rather than resist them. This perspective integrates their symptoms into the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, fostering a healthier, happier life.
Example: Trigger Management
For instance, a client triggered in the grocery store may recall feelings from childhood anticipating an angry parent’s arrival. This memory, laden with intense emotions and sensations, was shelocked away by their brain for future processing. Now, reminders like anxiety or sensory cues push them to address and heal these wounds, illustrating how our brain persistently works towards emotional resolution.
Addressing Emotional Numbness in Depression
Depression often manifests not just as sadness but as a numbness to feelings. Clients might express this as apathy or fatigue. I explain that this numbness is a maladaptive coping mechanism—shutting down feelings to escape overwhelming emotions. By processing these traumatic emotions through EMDR, we aim to safely re-engage their capacity to feel, reducing depressive episodes.
Challenging Blocking Beliefs
When clients fear that starting to feel will lead to unmanageable emotions, I remind them that no emotion lasts forever—just as the best feelings fade, so do the worst. I use analogies and sometimes humorous clips (like from ‘Family Guy’) to illustrate that addressing emotions directly can alleviate their persistence.
Overcoming Avoidance
For clients reluctant to confront painful emotions, I use the analogy of expelling bad food: ignoring it only exacerbates discomfort. Recognizing how the body reacts to negative thoughts helps them understand the need to ‘expel’ these toxic emotions.
Therapeutic Interweaves
During EMDR processing, I often use interweaves like, “Just breathe and let your body get that poison out,” or “If you are feeling, you are healing,” to support clients through tough emotional work.
Thank you for engaging with this exploration of emotional and bodily awareness in EMDR therapy. May your journey be both healing and enlightening.
Elyse Harper, LMFT, AC Agate Institute Facilitator & EMDR Specialty Trainer
