Understanding EMDR and What It's Used For
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of psychotherapy typically used to help people deal with the effects of trauma and PTSD.
However, thanks to its science-backed effectiveness, EMDR has become increasingly popular in the mental health world as a way to treat a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, and even personality disorders.
Unlike many traditional forms of talk therapy, EMDR focuses on reprocessing negative thoughts through bilateral stimulation. Let’s take a closer look at how it works and what you can expect if you decide it’s the right experience for you.
What Is the EMDR Process?
There are eight phases you’ll go through when undergoing EMDR for any kind of mental health treatment. With that in mind, EMDR is considered a short-term therapy. It’s not designed to be something you keep coming back to for the rest of your life. Rather, it gives you the tools and mindset necessary to overcome past and future challenges.
You’ll go through an initial assessment with your therapist. That includes offering them a brief history, including any negative thoughts you’re struggling with. They will be able to use those specific areas of struggle in the desensitization process.
Throughout that specific process, your therapist will guide your eye movements back and forth with their finger or an object as you focus on a specific negative thought or experience. Through reprocessing, they will help you change how you perceive that negative thought so you can find freedom from its control.
At the end of your sessions, your therapist will conduct a body scan to determine where stress or trauma might continue to store itself in the body. That will help them know where to focus as you move forward with your treatment.
What Is the Goal of EMDR?
It’s not always easy for people with distressing thoughts to talk about them openly. Some people dealing with PTSD might not even fully remember or understand those thoughts. Sometimes, an alternative method is what brings them to the forefront.
EMDR does that extremely well. The goal is to identify those thoughts and process them in a safe, healthy environment. It’s not a magical process that allows you to forget the negative thoughts or experiences. Rather, it takes away their control and helps to reduce the distress you might feel from them.
How Can EMDR Help With Multiple Issues?
Even though EMDR was initially meant to help with PTSD, its benefits extend to a variety of mental health conditions.
Someone dealing with anxiety, for example, might struggle with negative thoughts and “what ifs” controlling the narrative of their life. EMDR can help them identify where those anxious thoughts come from. When that individual better understands the root of the issue, they can reprocess how they think and recognize that they don’t have to give in to uncertainty and worry.
Someone with a personality disorder can benefit from EMDR by addressing and reprocessing the often painful and traumatic experiences that contribute to the symptoms of their condition. That isn’t always easy to do through traditional talk therapy. But, when someone is able to reduce the emotional intensity of negative experiences, they gain more control and can improve their overall emotional regulation.
Is EMDR Right for You?
Perhaps the most comforting thing you should take away from the EMDR process is the last phase — closure. Your therapist will want to make sure you experience closure before stopping your sessions. There isn’t an ideal timeline for that, as everyone is different. But, when you’ve been struggling with negative thoughts for years, the idea of closure can feel like a weight being lifted from your shoulders.
Understanding EMDR and its uses doesn’t have to be complicated. Even if we didn’t discuss a specific condition here and you feel like you’re struggling with something, don’t hesitate to reach out. The benefits of EMDR treatment are far-reaching, and if you’re wondering whether it’s right for you, I’m happy to help you on that journey.
