Eye
Movement
Desensitization &
Reprocessing
Where Science Beats Trauma
The Science of Healing Trauma
It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. Studies show that EMDR therapy is gentler, faster, and more effective long-term than traditional talk-therapy modalities. Let’s talk about how and why.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing. It uses bilateral stimulation to tap into the same processing center of our brain as REM sleep – our brain’s natural neurological processing center to process (heal) traumatic memories or other types of complex life experiences.
How does EMDR work?
EMDR uses the fourth stage of the sleep cycle, called Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. This is the phase of sleep where dreams take place. During REM sleep, our eyes move side to side rapidly which assists the brain in unconsciously processing memories and information from the day, the week, and even old traumas. This is why people with PTSD often have nightmares. But unlike nightmares, where you have no control over it, EMDR, you are fully awake and in control throughout the entire process.
What should I expect during EMDR treatment?
Since the EMDR bilateral stimulation is performed in short spurts (usually 1-2 minutes), many clients find it to be less intense than diving into deep conversations about it. The start-stop rhythm of EMDR allows the fight-flight-freeze response part of the brain to realize it can think about, or be reminded of, the traumatic experience and feel safe and in control. By doing so, the client becomes less reactive to the triggers and memories attached to the events. (If you’ve ever tempered chocolate, it’s kind of the same thing.)
To be clear, EMDR does not erase a person’s memories. EMDR simply processes and neutralizes the original memories that have created distorted thinking patterns and distressing emotions, and replaces them with healthier ones. The result of these changes is the reduction or elimination of unhealthy behaviors. It is important to understand, however, that while EMDR is generally much gentler, more effective, and more efficient than traditional talk therapies, it is not a quick fix to life’s problems. It does take effort from the client – but it is so worth it!
One of the (many) reasons I enjoy using EMDR to treat trauma is because the client is fully in control. Many clients find this to be empowering – especially when power and control were taken from them during the traumatic experience.
Want to try EMDR?
EMDR & Sexual Trauma
One of the primary factors that deters survivors of sexual abuse and/or sexual assault from receiving counseling treatment is not wanting to “re-live” the traumatizing memories. More often than not, survivors of sexual trauma want to do everything in their power to avoid the thoughts and overwhelming emotions attached to their experience. This causes many survivors to drop out of treatment before they reach full recovery. Because EMDR allows the brain to rapidly move through the memories without requiring the person to talk about the memories in detail. For this reason, survivors of sexual violence are more likely to complete treatment.
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