EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing

As a therapist, I am finding more and more clients requesting EMDR as the reputation and effectiveness of this form of therapy grows in public consciousness. The impact of previously unlocked or unhealed emotional trauma can be reduced or eliminated in a way which respects the individual and is supportive of the process they are experiencing. Clients often notice change coming about in their daily lives and the way in which they navigate professional and personal relationships within a relatively short time frame.

EMDR is a form of psychotherapy (recognised as a treatment of choice by NICE – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) which has been found to be of particular benefit and effectiveness in treating emotional and psychological trauma. You may have heard of it in connection with PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly experienced by forces personnel as a reaction to events during their duties. EMDR is used widely to treat PTSD. Similarly life events such as assault or road traffic accidents cause trauma. EMDR is useful across a broad spectrum of emotional and mental issues which people may experience during the course of their everyday lives.

EMDR was developed by Francine Shapiro in the 1980’s to facilitate the processing of traumatic memories which create distress and anxiety. Processing those memories unblocks mental scarring, and allows emotional and psychological healing to take place. It is thought that the therapy may work similarly to the processing which takes place in the brain during REM sleep cycles.

How EMDR Works

The client is asked to access the memory or memories which are causing the issue. Then, they are encouraged to identify the physical sensations associated with those memories. The therapist then guides the client through a process of a series of eye movements, uncovering the underlying emotions and releasing them. As a consequence trauma can be resolved. This results in the feelings which lay at the core of the trauma being replaced by a more positive mindset, which the client has identified as being appropriate for them at the outset of treatment.

Treatment takes place over a number of sessions in which EMDR is used to desensitise the anxiety the client experiences. Stress release/relaxation strategies are taught alongside. Relaxation hypnosis is conducted with the client. This works to embed new ways of responding to what would have previously acted as a trigger for the unwanted emotional or mental response. Dependent upon the complexity of the presenting trauma, and what may be uncovered during therapy, the number of sessions required will vary.