What is EMDR?
You may have heard of this thing called EMDR before and wondered- what does that mean? And how could it help me? I’m here to unpack the basics for you!
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. The name is a little misleading, because in practice, it may not always involve eye movement. In short, EMDR is a regimented practice that supports the brain’s natural healing process for trauma and other distressing experiences. It involves a set of 8 phases that a clinician will support a client in moving through in order. These methods were originally discovered and developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro, who realized, as she was walking, that shifting her focus left-and-right while thinking about a difficult memory helped decrease her feelings of distress.
Who can provide EMDR?
The regulating body for EMDR practice is EMDRIA (EMDR International Association). Your EMDR provider should be trained in EMDR through an EMDRIA-approved organization. Training often involves 5-6 full days of learning and applied experience to insure that your provider has a full understanding of this practice and how to utilize it with clients. Someone who is EMDR-certified has additional levels of training and consultation. If you’re looking for someone highly experienced and seasoned in their EMDR practice, look for certficiation.
What does an EMDR session look like?
An EMDR processing session may involve bilateral eye movement, tactile stimulation, or auditory stimulation while simultaneously thinking about a past memory. Before starting this part of the process, your provider will support you in building resources and coping skills to utilize if needed throughout the processing. The reprocessing stages of EMDR can bring up distressing emotions, but the goal is to decrease those feelings as the session progresses. EMDR relies on the brain’s natural ability to heal, so your provider will likely remind you to let your brain and thoughts go where they need to go.
Who can benefit from EMDR?
According to EMDRIA, EMDR can be helpful for treating a variety of diagnoses including (but not limited to) PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Dissociative Disorders, Chronic Illness, Pain, Eating Disorders, Personality Disorders, and more!
This is just a very brief summary: To learn more, you can explore https://www.emdria.org/!
If you’re looking to get started with an EMDR therapist today, you can fill out my form here to get started or set up a free 15-minute consultation call.
Elizabeth Allen, LCPAT, LGPC, ATR-BC
Creative Pathways Counseling LLC
