EMDR: Transforming Trauma with the Power of the Brain
What is EMDR?
EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is not your standard "talk therapy." Created by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, it has since been rigorously studied and is now acknowledged as an effective remedy for trauma and other unsettling experiences.
The premise behind EMDR is that when we go through a traumatic event, the memory, along with all of its associated feelings, emotions, and sensory details, can get stuck in our brain. And then present-day triggers can make us feel like we're reliving that trauma. Essentially, the past stays present. While the left side of our brain, the logical part, recognizes that our current reaction may be an overreaction, it's often overpowered by the intense emotions that the right side conjures up. Post-trauma, the harmony between these brain halves can be disrupted. EMDR aims to restore this balance, helping individuals process these distressing memories in a more healthy way.
The Science Behind EMDR
At the heart of trauma is a memory that hasn’t been properly stored or processed. Imagine the brain as a computer – sometimes, files get corrupted or don’t save correctly. Traumatic memories can be like those faulty files.
EMDR helps by activating both sides of the brain through bilateral stimulation (BLS). The most commonly known form of BLS is guided eye movements (left to right), but tapping or audio stimulation can be used as well. This bilateral stimulation mimics the brain's natural processing and is similar to the REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep, which is the time when we naturally work through and store daily experiences.
This bilateral process helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories, making them less distressing. Over time, individuals can recall the event without the overwhelming emotional response that once accompanied it.
The EMDR Difference
What sets EMDR apart from traditional psychotherapy is its unique approach to treating these stuck memories. Instead of just talking through the trauma, EMDR employs a structured eight-phase approach that often involves bilateral stimulation, typically using guided eye movements. This process helps the brain to reprocess the traumatic memory, integrating it in a more adaptive way. The aim is to bridge the gap between the logical and emotional parts of the brain, which, post-trauma, might not be communicating optimally. By doing so, individuals can find relief from the emotional grip of past traumas and respond to current situations without the overwhelming intensity from before.
The efficacy of EMDR goes beyond theory. Research shows that up to 90% of single-trauma victims no longer exhibited PTSD symptoms after just three 90-minute sessions. Another compelling study found that 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD in 12 sessions. EMDR's remarkable effectiveness and speed in treating traumatic memories make it a standout in the realm of psychotherapies.
What to Expect in an EMDR Session?
The experience of EMDR is notably different from traditional talk therapy. At its core, EMDR is a neurological process rather than purely a cognitive or talking one. This means that while you'll certainly be communicating in the session, there's typically less discussion or talking in between processing and more targeted work on specific memories or traumas. Talking actually slows down the neurological processing and so we tend to avoid elaborate discussion between processing. The analogy I like to give here is to imagine that you are going through a scary tunnel, instead of stopping every 10 feet, we are going to drive straight through and discuss the experience at the end. To maintain the neurological movement in an EMDR session, you might hear “let’s go with that” quite often. This is a subtle reminder to the brain to continue to focus on the target memory or belief.
Another one of the distinguishing aspects of EMDR is its emphasis on "dual awareness." Think of it as keeping one foot in the present moment and one foot in the memory. This balance ensures you're connected to the here and now, offering a grounding safety net while addressing distressing memories. It allows you to process traumatic events without getting completely immersed in them or feeling re-traumatized.
You might find the session more focused, zooming in on particular events, beliefs, or feelings, and using bilateral stimulation (guided eye movements or tapping) to help your brain process these memories in a healthier way. This targeted approach is designed to ensure that traumatic memories are no longer frozen in their raw, distressing state, but instead can be remembered without the intense emotional charge.
While EMDR delves deep into the root causes of distress, it does so in a manner that prioritizes your safety and well-being. Many clients find the experience transformative, not just reliving the past but reshaping the emotional impact it holds on the present.
