What Is EMDR and Can It Really Heal Memories of Abuse?
Many of our clients come to us with depression or addiction, only to discover that they also have lingering trauma from abuse. In most cases, this old trauma is actually fueling the more immediate feelings and behavior.
Our go-to method for treating trauma or abuse is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR has been around for awhile and has plenty of evidence-based research to demonstrate how highly effective it is in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other forms of trauma.
What Is EMDR?
The beneficial effect of EMDR comes from getting your brain to activate in a similar way as REM sleep, but while you are awake and present in your session. Your therapist will have you mentally recall a painful memory while providing bilateral stimulation to activate the reprocessing. This stimulation is typically done through a tapping sensation on your hand or a moving light which you follow with your eyes.
EMDR lasts about 20 to 30 minutes of your normal 50-minute session. However, they are incredibly effective. Over the course of treatment, your brain will rewire so that you can recall the trauma—both in and out of session—with more and more neutrality.
After as few as 3 to 4 sessions, the memory will begin to lose its emotional weight. We will spend time focusing on specific triggering moments in your past. Often these are linked. As one memory heals, others will heal too, and a domino effect of healing will ensue.
The overall length of treatment varies by case and intensity. Most people are able to recall and discuss a traumatic incident without any intense emotional reaction when the process is complete. Any negative impact on your current mental health will likely be diminished.
Why Does EMDR Work for Trauma?
The best working theory of the exact nature of EMDR’s effectiveness is in its link to REM sleep. During REM sleep, it is believed that the brain is processing all the thoughts and events of the day. It files some away in long-term memory, connects others to important safety and survival parts of the brain, and dumps other memories completely.
The process of EMDR activates this reprocessing aspect of the brain while you are awake, present, and thinking of the past memory. Judith Shapiro, Ph.D, developed the approach when she noticed that bilateral stimulation lessened the intensity of her own negative memories.
EMDR has been studied extensively since it’s development in the 1980s. It’s one of the most effective, evidence-based ways of addressing trauma, and for most people it only takes a few sessions to begin seeing improvements. It’s even been used on first responders for crises like the Oklahoma City bombing and 9/11.
Learn More about EMDR
To learn more about EMDR, contact us at (760) 283-7000. Several of our therapists have received official training in the modality. We would be happy to discuss your situation and see if EMDR would be a helpful treatment.