Catherine M. Blake, MA, LPC, Certified Therapist in EMDR
EMDR Therapy
Why Do I Still Have Nightmares, Panic Attacks, Hard Time Sleeping, Low Energy, Memory Loss and other forms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? When a person is very upset, their brain cannot process information as it does ordinarily. One moment becomes “frozen in time.” Remembering a trauma (stimulated by something similar in today’s environment) may feel as bad as going thought it the first time because the images, sounds, smells, beliefs (“I am helpless”), sensations, and feelings haven’t changed. Such memories have a lasting negative effect that interferes with how a person sees the world and the way they relate to other people.
What Is EMDR?Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was one of the first treatments of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to be evaluated in controlled research and has to date been empirically supported by over 20 controlled, clinical studies. These studies have consistently found that EMDR effectively decreases/eliminates the symptoms of post traumatic stress for the majority of clients. Clients often report improvement in other associated symptoms such as anxiety. The current treatment guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies designate EMDR as an effective treatment for post traumatic stress. EMDR was also found effective by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense, the United Kingdom Department of Health, and many other international health and governmental agencies. Research has also shown that EMDR can be an efficient and rapid treatment.
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How Does EMDR Work?According to Dr. Francine Shapiro (inventor of EMDR), there are 2 research-verified theories on why EMDR works. The first is that EMDR overloads our brain’s working memory so it “lets go” of some of the immediate details of the trauma so they are no longer stored there. These details can include the pain, sounds, smells, feelings, etc. The memory of the event (s) remains, but the details (causing present day problems such as nightmares, hypersensitivity, etc) release.
The second theory is that EMDR works like REM sleep to shift our orientation response from episodic to semantic memory in our brain. Episodic memory contains the immediate details which have been “stuck” including sensations, beliefs, 5 senses, etc. Semantic memory contains meaning, concepts and knowledge about the external world. EMDR does not change the original memory, it deletes the old one and stores the new one in its place. How Long Does EMDR Take?One or more sessions are required for the therapist to understand the nature of the problem and to decide whether EMDR is appropriate treatment. You need to understand EMDR, have appropriate tools/resources to handle disturbing material which may surface, and have enough trust in the therapist for the treatment to work. Single events (eg. Person witnessing a shooting and being resilient otherwise) can take as few as 1 – 3 sessions. Childhood trauma takes longer since there are lots of memories to be released! The first step is learning ways to cope with strong feelings to avoid being re-traumatized.
What Does An EMDR Session Look Like?During EMDR, the therapist works with you to identify a specific problem in your current life. You are asked to bring the disturbing issue or event to mind, which was seen, felt, heard, thought, etc. and what thoughts and beliefs are currently held about that event. The therapist facilitates the dual attention stimulation of the brain while you focus on the disturbing material. You just notice and allow whatever comes to mind without making any effort to control direction or content. Each person processes information uniquely, based on personal experience and values. Sets are continued until the memory becomes less disturbing and is associated with positive thoughts and beliefs about your Self. During EMDR, you may experience intense emotions, but by the end of the session, most people report a great reduction in the level of disturbance.
Depending on personal preference, auditory tones, hand clickers, or tapping on both sides of the body are used to stimulate both sides of the brain in the same way that moving the eyes side to side (the original method) does. |
Is EMDR Right for You?
There are many kinds of symptoms or problems clients bring to EMDR therapy from home, work, or relationships. People tend to think that EMDR only helps people who suffer from severe experiences like auto accidents, war, sexual abuse and rape. If you have suffered from these traumas, EMDR might be very helpful for you. But other issues can also be helped with EMDR. See http://maibergerinstitute.com/is-emdr-right-for-you/ for a helpful questionnaire.
Cathy is a Certified Therapist in EMDR by the EMDR International Association.
For more information see www.emdria.org
Cathy is a Certified Therapist in EMDR by the EMDR International Association.
For more information see www.emdria.org
