EMDR THERAPY: WHY IT MIGHT BE RIGHT FOR YOU
Trauma affects how the brain functions. It can physically change the brain and make people feel like they are no longer themselves. Daily routines and tasks that were once simple have now become difficult and even overwhelming. There are options to treat trauma.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is one effective method of treating trauma. The name of this intervention may seem odd; just seeing or hearing it can cause some confusion. It is, however, a fairly simple intervention that addresses the many effects of trauma, including negative beliefs about the self (such as “I am not good enough” or “I am powerless”) that commonly arise, the sensory aspect, including images and body sensations related to the trauma, as well as emotions.
The EMDR Institute, Inc., has conducted multiple studies to test the efficacy of EMDR, and the data shows that a majority of people experience a reduction in their trauma-related symptoms after treatment. One such study, conducted by Carlson et al. (1998), found that 77.7% of veterans who had experienced multiple traumatic events had an elimination of post-traumatic stress (PTSD) symptoms after participating in 12 sessions of EMDR. Another study, conducted by Arabia et al. (2011), found that people who had experienced a life-threatening health issue related to cardiac problems had a reduction in symptoms related to PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
OVERVIEW OF EMDR TREATMENT
There are eight phases in EMDR treatment. Francine Shapiro (2001), who developed this therapeutic technique, states that it is important to understand that how long a person must spend in each phase will be different for each individual.
The eight phases include:
Getting a history
Preparing a person for the trauma work through building coping skills
Determining the specific components of the first trauma that will be reprocessed
Desensitization
Installing a positive belief about the self when recalling the trauma
Checking in with the body for any residual trauma (body scan)
Closing of the session
Reevaluation during the next session to see if any new information has come up or changes have happened between sessions.
DUAL ATTENTION STIMULUS
What most people find interesting or even somewhat odd about EMDR is dual attention stimulus, which is utilized during the desensitization, installation, and body scan phases of EMDR. This involves either moving the eyes back and forth, tapping on the knee— one knee and then the other— or using handheld “pulsers” that vibrate to provide a gentle tactile stimulation, which many find soothing and relaxing.
The dual attention seems to do a few things: (1) it assists the brain to work through previously difficult material; (2) makes recalling memory easier; and (3) has a calming effect. It is unknown why the dual attention produces these effects but several studies support its efficacy (EMDR Institute, 2011).
Dual attention can also help a person to keep the attention in the present while allowing the brain to go to the long term memory, which can help to decrease the potential for hyperarousal, which could inhibit treatment. It is suggested that dual attention helps with processing information through the brain so it can be filed away correctly.
EMDR AND THE BRAIN
Another way to see the EMDR process and how it helps is to imagine that your brain and its memory networks are a network of streams and rivers. When a traumatic event happens, it is almost like a beaver dam has been constructed somewhere within the network, which can send the entire network into panic mode. The water gets backed up and overflows, which can affect areas that don’t seem connected to the network with the block.
In the case of trauma, it is the emotion, memories, body sensations, thoughts, and beliefs that are overflowing and not getting where they need to go. EMDR’s main objective is to address and remove the beaver dam, or block, so that the brain can process normally. Removing blocks essentially helps the brain to tap into its own ability to heal itself.
CLIENTS WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS SERVICE
Clients who are victims of natural and man-made disasters; sexual assault victims; those experiencing excessive grief due to complicated deaths such as: in-the-line-of-duty deaths; combat veterans; police, fire, and EMS; victims of crime; those involved in an accident; witness to violence; those who have been diagnosed with a major illness (such as cancer); workplace accident; those who have a loved one who has been involved in a major disturbing event; or any client who seems unable to move forward from a disturbing event.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
If interested in participating in EMDR therapy, make sure that the therapist you choose is trained by a reputable source.
EMDR is a well-researched and effective treatment for trauma on any level, no matter how small or big. Even if EMDR is not the right fit for you, other resources and treatment modalities are available.
Currently, only Brent Cichoski, LPC is trained in EMDR therapy.
References:
Arabia, E., Manca, M.L., and Solomon, R.M. (2011). EMDR for survivors of life-threatening cardiac events: Results of a pilot study. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 5, pp. 2-13. Retrieved September 1, 2014 fromhttp://www.emdr.com/general-information/research-overview.html
Carlson, J., Chemtob, C.M., Rusnak, K., Hedlund, N.L, and Muraoka, M.Y. (1998). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): Treatment for combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 11, 3-24. Retrieved September 1, 2014 fromhttp://www.emdr.com/general-information/research-overview.html
EMDR Institute, Inc. Dual attention stimuli. Retrieved September 1, 2014 from http://www.emdr.com/general-information/dual-attention-stimuli.html
EMDR Institute, Inc. Research overview. Retrieved September 1, 2014 from http://www.emdr.com/general-information/research-overview.html
Shapiro, F. (2001). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures, second edition. The Guilford Press: New York