EMDR Therapy: What Is It For?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has become increasingly popular in recent years, but it’s not a new concept. This type of therapy is science-backed and focuses on the process of bilateral stimulation to help people struggling with negative thoughts or memories. 

EMDR was initially used to treat people struggling with the effects of trauma, including those with PTSD. But, it’s also been found to be effective in helping with anxiety, phobias, and more. 

Let’s take a closer look at what EMDR is really for, and why it’s so effective. 

EMDR for Trauma

There are plenty of modalities designed to help people deal with and heal from trauma. Many of them involve a lot of talking and diving deeper into the traumatic events that you’ve experienced. 

While EMDR does require a bit of talking so your therapist can learn about your history, it’s not considered talk therapy. Rather, bilateral stimulation is used to help you reprocess your negative memories. 

You don’t forget about the memories, but you’ll be able to reframe them so they don’t seem so overwhelming or controlling. You can change a negative thought into a positive one. 

Processing Traumatic Thoughts

Traumatic thoughts can often get “stuck” when they aren’t fully processed. Maybe you experienced a traumatic event as a child and you’ve repressed it as a defense mechanism. Maybe you were in an abusive relationship and you haven’t been able to recover from what you went through because the memories still haunt you. 

Trauma that gets stuck in the body can manifest itself in many negative ways. One of the great things about EDMR is that your therapist will do a body scan at the end of your sessions. This will let them know where (if anywhere) trauma is being stored. They can then focus on those specific areas, getting it “unstuck” so you can move forward. 

EMDR for Other Conditions

While EMDR was originally meant to help people with trauma, it’s effective for almost anyone dealing with negative thoughts. For example, if you struggle with anxiety, you probably deal with daily fear. Anxiety tends to get stronger when you consider the “what ifs” of a situation. 

EMDR can help you fight back against the negative “what ifs” and replace them with positive thoughts. The questions don’t necessarily disappear from your mind. They just seem less overwhelming and scary. 

What Else Can EMDR Help with?

In addition to trauma and anxiety, EMDR has been used to help people with phobias, addictions, OCD, depression, and even chronic pain. It can reduce pain by changing the way your brain experiences uncomfortable feelings. If your pain is triggered by trauma or emotional distress, EMDR can help you deal with both the mental and physical issues you’re struggling with. 

What to Expect

EMDR is considered a short-term therapy. Most people need about 6-12 sessions to complete their treatment. You’ll go through different stages of the therapy, including sharing your background and specific struggles with your therapist. 

The desensitization and reprocessing phases involve focusing on a specific negative thought while your therapist guides your eye movement back and forth. When you become desensitized to that thought, your therapist will help you reframe it into something positive. 

The more isolated your negative memories and thoughts are, the easier it usually is for your therapist to help you work through them, but everyone is different and EMDR is a unique experience for each individual. 

If you’re interested in learning more about EMDR therapy or you’re wondering whether it’s the right fit for you, please contact me for more information. I’m happy to discuss your needs and help you set up an appointment.