What to expect when working with an EMDR therapist...
What is EMDR and is it right for me?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy that helps individuals process traumatic memories and other distressing experiences. While EMDR is best known for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), this form of therapy can be used to address various other mental health concerns including but not limited to: anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, early attachment-injuries, as well as depression and anxiety from cultural and/or identity-based oppression. When encountering distressing or upsetting experiences, our processing system can become overwhelmed. This leads to an inability to store the emotions, beliefs, body sensations, and images of the event into long-term memory. Through the use of guided prompts and bilateral stimulation (i.e., eye-movements and guided tapping), you will be able to access your natural adaptive information processing system to assist in fully processing and storing the experiences in an adaptive way.
What to expect in EMDR sessions…
During EMDR sessions, you can expect a compassionate, structured approach designed to help you move through difficult emotions and memories in a safe, supportive environment that is at your pace. EMDR is broken down into the following 8 phases: (1) history taking and treatment planning, (2) preparation, (3) assessment, (4) desensitization, (5) installation, (6) body scan, (7) closure, and (8) reevaluation.
Phase 1: During phase one, you and your clinician will work together to collaboratively identify the root cause of presenting concerns. Additionally, you will identify target memories for reprocessing, triggers, and future goals. During this time, you and your clinician will develop a treatment plan identifying which memory/memory cluster to address first.
Note: At no point during EMDR treatment will detailed verbal processing of the target memory be required.
Phase 2: Within the preparation phase, you and your clinician will discuss questions and concerns regarding EMDR treatment as well as build a “tool-kit” of emotional regulation skills, empowering you to feel prepared for reprocessing. At this point in time, you and your clinician will explore various bilateral stimulation interventions to identify a modality that works best for you!
Phases 3-6: During these phases, the target memory will be “activated” through structured assessment questions. Your clinician will then guide you through the reprocessing phases through the use of supportive prompts and bilateral stimulation.
Phase 7: Following every reprocessing appointment, your clinician will set aside an appropriate amount of time to facilitate emotional regulation, grounding, and containment exercises. You and your clinician will then discuss best self-care practices following the appointment.
Phase 8: Your clinician will facilitate re-evaluation during the beginning of each EMDR session following a reprocessing appointment to ensure the treatment plan is on-track and goals are being addressed.
For more information regarding EMDR feel free to take a peek at the following resources:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy that helps individuals process traumatic memories and other distressing experiences. While EMDR is best known for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), this form of therapy can be used to address various other mental health concerns including but not limited to: anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, early attachment-injuries, as well as depression and anxiety from cultural and/or identity-based oppression. When encountering distressing or upsetting experiences, our processing system can become overwhelmed. This leads to an inability to store the emotions, beliefs, body sensations, and images of the event into long-term memory. Through the use of guided prompts and bilateral stimulation (i.e., eye-movements and guided tapping), you will be able to access your natural adaptive information processing system to assist in fully processing and storing the experiences in an adaptive way.
What to expect in EMDR sessions…
During EMDR sessions, you can expect a compassionate, structured approach designed to help you move through difficult emotions and memories in a safe, supportive environment that is at your pace. EMDR is broken down into the following 8 phases: (1) history taking and treatment planning, (2) preparation, (3) assessment, (4) desensitization, (5) installation, (6) body scan, (7) closure, and (8) reevaluation.
Phase 1: During phase one, you and your clinician will work together to collaboratively identify the root cause of presenting concerns. Additionally, you will identify target memories for reprocessing, triggers, and future goals. During this time, you and your clinician will develop a treatment plan identifying which memory/memory cluster to address first.
Note: At no point during EMDR treatment will detailed verbal processing of the target memory be required.
Phase 2: Within the preparation phase, you and your clinician will discuss questions and concerns regarding EMDR treatment as well as build a “tool-kit” of emotional regulation skills, empowering you to feel prepared for reprocessing. At this point in time, you and your clinician will explore various bilateral stimulation interventions to identify a modality that works best for you!
Phases 3-6: During these phases, the target memory will be “activated” through structured assessment questions. Your clinician will then guide you through the reprocessing phases through the use of supportive prompts and bilateral stimulation.
Phase 7: Following every reprocessing appointment, your clinician will set aside an appropriate amount of time to facilitate emotional regulation, grounding, and containment exercises. You and your clinician will then discuss best self-care practices following the appointment.
Phase 8: Your clinician will facilitate re-evaluation during the beginning of each EMDR session following a reprocessing appointment to ensure the treatment plan is on-track and goals are being addressed.
For more information regarding EMDR feel free to take a peek at the following resources: