A Quick Guide on EMDR For Clinicians
EMDR or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a type of trauma therapy most widely used for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and phobias. Discovered by Francisne Shapiro in the 1980s, she observed that certain repetitive eye movements, when linked with thoughts of distressing experiences, could reduce the intensity of those thoughts.
What is EMDR?
EMDR is a trauma therapy used to remove feelings and sensations associated with a traumatic memory so that the person can recall the event without getting overwhelmed by distressing feelings. The therapy technique rewires the brain to erase the negative emotional feelings of a traumatic event. This makes it possible for the person to remember and recall the details of the event without involving feelings of distress.
How Does EMDR Work?
The concept of EMDR is based on the adaptive information processing model, which posits that negative thoughts and feelings are products of unprocessed memories. In EMDR therapy, bilateral stimulation is associated with traumatizing memories to change beliefs about the event by alternatively activating each half of the brain in order to create new neural connections.
Even though EMDR initially began with eye movements, several types of bilateral sensory input are now used by clinicians who have undergone trauma therapy EMDR training. These include clients following the moving finger of the practitioner with their eyes, a light moving back and forth projected from a machine, alternate tap to the client’s knees, and handheld vibrating pods that alternate their vibration pattern and have adjustable speeds and intensities.
The adaptive processing model propounds that the human body has an innate inclination to heal itself. However, memories of distressing experiences could be stored in a raw sensory form in the limbic system,instead of a semantic memory, And so long as the memory is stored in its raw form, the individual will continue to experience a feeling of distress when they recall the memory. In EMDR, the sensory memory is paired with bilateral stimulation of the body which lowers physiological arousal and allows the body to convert the memory from an emotional form into a more logical form.
What Does an EMDR Session Involve?
EMDR is an eight-phase therapy treatment model with sessions that last a little longer than the traditional 45 minute mark at around 90 minutes. The number of sessions required to yield results varies among individuals, with some experiencing relief in as few as six sessions.
The treatment models include clinicians analyzing their clients’ history, preparing, assessing, and desensitizing them, body scan, closure, and re-evaluation of the treatment. During the client preparation phase, the clinician should address the EMDR safety protocols by establishing images or memories that the client may return to whenever the trauma therapy becomes overwhelming.
What Does it Take to Incorporate EMDR Therapy?
To perform EMDR techniques, clinicians require having an advanced mental health license, taking theory classes, and direct application of EMDR and multiple sessions under the supervision of a licensed EMDR expert.
Take Part in Trauma Therapy EMDR Training
EMDR & Beyond provides training, education, consultation to clinicians looking to incorporate EMDR in their practice. To learn more about our online training class, check out our training page by visiting here.