What is EMDR and How Will That Help Me Conquer My Trauma?
EMDR shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes.
Is there any evidence of EMDR working?
Another study by Marcus et al. demonstrated that 100% of the single-trauma subjects and 77% of multiple trauma subjects no longer were diagnosed with PTSD after only six 50-minute sessions.
In another study by Hurley, 76% of combat veterans experienced an elimination of PTSD in 12 sessions.
There has been wide array of evidence on EMDR therapy that it is now recognized as an effective form of treatment for trauma and other challenging experiences by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization and the Department of Defense.
Given the worldwide acclaim as an effective treatment of trauma, you can easily see how EMDR therapy would be effective in treating people have low self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness, and all the myriad problems that bring them in for therapy as well.
How will EMDR uSed in our sessions?
EMDR Treatment Guideline
EMDR therapy is an eight-phase treatment. Eye movements (or other bilateral stimulation) are used during one part of the session. After the clinician has determined which memory to target first, he asks the client to hold different aspects of that event or thought in mind and to use his eyes to track the therapist’s hand as it moves back and forth across the client’s field of vision.
Unlike talk therapy, the insights clients gain in EMDR therapy result not so much from clinician interpretation, but from the client’s own accelerated intellectual and emotional processes. The net effect is that clients conclude EMDR therapy feeling empowered by the very experiences that once debased them. Their wounds have not just closed, they have transformed. As a natural outcome of the EMDR therapeutic process, the clients’ thoughts, feelings and behavior are all robust indicators of emotional health and resolution—all without speaking in detail or doing homework used in other therapies.
Phase 1
The first phase is a history-taking session(s). The therapist assesses the client’s readiness and develops a treatment plan. Client and therapist identify possible targets for EMDR processing. These include distressing memories and current situations that cause emotional distress. Other targets may include related incidents in the past. Emphasis is placed on the development of specific skills and behaviors that will be needed by the client in future situations. Initial EMDR processing may be directed to childhood events rather than to adult onset stressors or the identified critical incident if the client had a problematic childhood. Clients generally gain insight on their situations, the emotional distress resolves and they start to change their behaviors. The length of treatment will depend upon the number of traumas and the age of PTSD onset. Those with single event adult onset trauma can be successfully treated in under 5 hours. Multiple trauma victims may require a longer treatment time.
Phase 2
During the second phase of treatment, the therapist ensures that the client has several different ways of handling emotional distress. The therapist may teach the client a variety of imagery and stress reduction techniques the client can use during and between sessions. A goal of EMDR therapy is to produce rapid and effective change while the client maintains equilibrium during and between sessions.
PHASE 3 - 6
In phases three to six, a target is identified and processed using EMDR therapy procedures. These involve the client identifying three things: 1. The vivid visual image related to the memory 2. A negative belief about self 3. Related emotions and body sensations. In addition, the client identifies a positive belief. The therapist helps the client rate the positive belief as well as the intensity of the negative emotions. After this, the client is instructed to focus on the image, negative thought, and body sensations while simultaneously engaging in EMDR processing using sets of bilateral stimulation. These sets may include eye movements, taps, or tones. The type and length of these sets is different for each client. At this point, the EMDR client is instructed to just notice whatever spontaneously happens. After each set of stimulation, the clinician instructs the client to let his/her mind go blank and to notice whatever thought, feeling, image, memory, or sensation comes to mind. Depending upon the client’s report, the clinician will choose the next focus of attention. If the client becomes distressed or has difficulty in progressing, the therapist follows established procedures to help the client get back on track. When the client reports no distress related to the targeted memory, (s)he is asked to think of the preferred positive belief that was identified at the beginning of the session. At this time, the client may adjust the positive belief if necessary, and then focus on it during the next set of distressing events.
Phase 7
In phase seven, closure, the therapist asks the client to keep a log during the week. The log should document any related material that may arise. It serves to remind the client of the self-calming activities that were mastered in phase two.
Phase 8
The next session begins with phase eight. Phase eight consists of examining the progress made thus far. The EMDR treatment processes all related historical events, current incidents that elicit distress, and future events that will require different responses
*(Reference: EMDR Institute}
An Integrative Approach To Counseling
At A Beautiful Soul Holistic Counseling, our clinicians are expertly trained in Advanced Mental Health Integrative Medicine approaches that help to address the whole person, which is essential in identifying the underlying issues that may be preventing optimal health and wellness.