So what is EMDR anyway?
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a mental health treatment that looks (and feels) different than traditional talk therapy. Initially developed for use with folks presenting with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), EMDR has been heavily researched to be helpful for those who have experienced, or are experiencing, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, and phobias. Maybe you saw Lil Jon recently talking about his experience with EMDR therapy, or you’ve wondered what those 4 letters actually stand for. Either way, hopefully this helps outline what you can expect if you are looking to do EMDR therapy.
Francine Shapiro, psychologist and founder of EMDR, stumbled upon this approach somewhat accidentally. She noticed that there was a connection between her own eye-movement and her ability to process difficult emotions. We now call this Bilateral Stimulation, and it can look like tapping, eye-movement, and/or stepping— back and forth, across the midline of our visual field or body.
A structured approach following 8-phases is one of the things that sets EMDR apart from other therapeutic approaches. Throughout the process, clients are invited to just notice or observe what is happening for them, without judgement. Our bodies and our brains store trauma, and EMDR is a tool that can help ‘un-stick’ some of those past thoughts, feelings, and memories. While we can’t actually go back and change the past, EMDR can help to reduce how distressing or disturbing the memories of past traumatic events are to you today. Another way of thinking about this is that EMDR can help to reduce the emotional charge these events have.
If you are looking to get connected with a therapist who does EMDR, one helpful tool is to look for those who have completed an EMDRIA approved training. EMDRIA is the international association for EMDR and essentially serves as the regulatory body for trainings and consultation.
Curious about EMDR and if it could be a good fit for your goals in therapy? Let’s connect!
