what is emdr?

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Introduction

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy approach designed for working with distressing or traumatic memories.  The theory behind EMDR is that many psychological difficulties are the result of distressing life experiences which have not been stored in memory properly and are said to be unprocessed or blocked.  These traumatic memories may need some help to become processed, and EMDR is one way to do this.

What is special about trauma memories?

Normal memories are stored by a part of the brain called the hippocampus.  You can think of the hippocampus as a sort of librarian which catalogues (processes) events and stores them in the right place.   However, some traumatic events (such accidents, abuse, disasters, or violence) are so overwhelming that the hippocampus doesn’t do its job properly.  When this happens memories are stored in their raw, unprocessed, form.  These trauma memories are easily triggered, leading them to replay and cause distress over and again.

What will I be asked to do in an EMDR session?

There are a number of steps to EMDR treatment, but some of the key stages are to: 

Preparation Phase

• Think of a troubling memory, then identify an image of the worst moment of that memory. 
• Identify a negative belief about that worst moment (the therapist may ask “what is the worst thing that moment says about you?”). 
• Identify emotions and bodily feelings linked to that moment. 

Processing Phase

• Think about the image & belief while at the same time making left-to-right eye movements (or while paying attention to tapping sensations or sounds that are alternately given from left-to-right). 
• To allow your mind to ‘go with’ whatever comes up and just notice what happens. 
• This process will be repeated until the memory causes less distress (this may happen in one session, or may take several sessions).

Why do I need to make eye movements?

In EMDR you are asked to pay attention from one side to another while thinking about your memory.   One way to pay attention from left to right is to follow the therapist’s finger as they move it from side-to-side in your line of vision.  Alternative versions of EMDR ask you to pay attention to sounds or tapping sensations which occur in sequence from left to right.  This side-to-side motion is called bilateral stimulation.  It has been found to enhance memory processing and there are a number of theories explaining how it might do this. The important thing is to be able to find a form of bilateral stimulation that you are comfortable with.

What is EMDR used to treat?

There is very good evidence that EMDR is an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is recommended by the American Psychological Association (USA) and the National Institute for Health and CareExcellence (NICE, UK) as an effective treatment for PTSD.  Phoenix Australia,  the National Centre of Excellence in Post Traumatic Mental Health lists EMDR as one of the preferred treatment methods for PTSD.

How long does treatment take?

EMDR sessions are sometimes slightly longer than typical therapy sessions (up to 90 minutes). The number of sessions needed will depend on the type and severity of trauma which you experienced. 

EMDR is included on the list of approved Focused Psychological Strategies under the Better Access to Mental Health Care Scheme.