A while ago I was watching an episode of All American and to my surprise a character on the show went to therapy and engaged in memory reprocessing, a part of EMDR. And not only did All American decide to feature this specific therapy, but so have other shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Criminal Minds. Prince Harry even incorporated his experience of EMDR in his documentary, and many celebrities have been talking about their EMDR experiences.
We’ve seen it in the media, heard about it from celebrities, and possibly heard about it from friends. Some people call it magic and say it is amazing, and some people tried it once and say never again. So, what is this therapy that is getting a lot of press and hype?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, it is a type of therapy that helps people heal from traumatic or distressing life experiences by using bilateral stimulation (like eye movements or tapping) while processing difficult memories. But, it is a lot more than that. I could talk to anyone about it for at least an hour, partly because I love to talk about EMDR and partly because there is so much to it (In fact I completed 6 full days of training and 10 hours of consultation just to get the basic training). So, I will do my best to give you a basic understanding of the this very effective and unique therapy.
What is EMDR Therapy? Understanding Eye Movement and Bilateral Stimulation
Let’s talk about the eye movement or bilateral engagement. In a nutshell, engaging both sides of your body, like moving your eyes back and forth from right to left, activates your brain in a way that enables you to desensitize from past distressing memories more effectively and efficiently. Initially the EMDR protocol only involved eye movement (hence the name), but it has since evolved and research has shown that any engagement of both sides of your body is effective. So this can look like holding buzzers that vibrate in each hand, tapping on your legs with both of your hands alternating, or having tones play back and forth in each ear.
How EMDR Desensitization Works for Trauma Recovery
All right, so what is the desensitization part about? In EMDR one of the goals is to desensitize your body and emotions to a traumatic or negatively charged memory. Think of the cliché “face your fears.” We are helping clients to face their past trauma and tolerate it so that it becomes less intense over time. If you are afraid of public speaking and sign yourself up to do a stand up routine at an open mic every night for a year, I would be pretty certain you would be desensitized to the anxiety that you once had and it would feel significantly less stressful and scary. Sitting with painful experiences along with bilateral engagement moves you toward less activation when thinking of that memory in the future. I often hear people say they feel neutral about a previously distressing memory after we have reprocessed it.
Memory Reprocessing: How EMDR Changes Negative Beliefs
Now let’s discuss the “R” in EMDR: Reprocessing. Not only are we working to reduce emotional and body distress associated with past trauma memories, but we are also identifying negative beliefs about yourself that are tied to that memory and working on shifting those into positive beliefs. At the end, if you have successfully reprocessed a memory, you will be able to experience that memory neutrally (you may still have some emotions and thoughts about it, but you won’t feel the same activation in your body or emotions) and you will be left with a positive belief about yourself that you can carry forward with you.
The EMDR Therapy Process: What to Expect
So, you have some parts and pieces, but how does this all come together in an actual therapy experience? The first thing to note is that safety and trust are the groundwork of EMDR. If you do not feel safe with your therapist and do not trust them, you will likely not have success and could potentially have a negative experience with EMDR reprocessing. That is why EMDR is not all reprocessing. It’s actually made up of multiple phases, the first couple of which involve the therapist getting to know you, building a relationship and trust with you, and giving you resources and skills to manage the distress that comes with trauma. I believe this preparation stage is as important if not more important than reprocessing itself.
What might you do during this preparation stage? You will build a relationship with your therapist, share about your life, your strengths, your struggles. You will discuss your goals and what you want to work on. You will work on strategies to tolerate distress emotionally and in your body, and you will also gain some practical tools that you will use regularly to prepare for reprocessing.
After you feel ready and able to tolerate the distress that comes with the difficult memories, you will bring up the memory while engaging both sides of your body and staying in the present. I like to think of it as having one foot in the past and one in the present. You use the skills you learned to tolerate any distress that comes up, and you move through the thoughts, emotions, and body sensations that arise without judgment.
The last thing to note here, is that EMDR can feel a little scary or overwhelming, and that is why it is meant to be done in therapy with a licensed and trained therapist who knows how to hold space for your trauma, your intense emotions and body sensations, your dark thoughts, and dark memories. I believe at the end of the day, the connection between a therapist and their client is the essential ingredient to deep healing and change. The beauty is you don’t have to carry the weight, the shame, the guilt, all of the deep dark secrets alone.
Is EMDR Therapy Right for You?
How do you know if EMDR is right for you? EMDR is an evidence-based therapy that has been shown to be effective for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and a range of other conditions. Personally I believe EMDR can be helpful for just about anyone who has lived life on planet earth because we all experience pain and suffering. But more specifically, EMDR therapy might be helpful for you if:
you notice your body reacting to situations and it seems out of your control
you are stuck in negative beliefs about yourself even if you rationally know those beliefs are not true
you have been in therapy for a long time and just haven’t found the progress you have been looking for
you want to dig deep and really heal past wounds that are still impacting you today
you keep thinking about a past negative experience and it keeps coming up over and over again regardless of how much you try to get rid of it
you notice distressful body sensations at certain times of the year or around certain people or places
You are curious and wonder if it could help you, that’s reason enough!
These are just some reasons you might benefit from EMDR, and if you are not sure, I encourage you to take the first step and have the conversation with a therapist.
EMDR Therapy in Westerville, Ohio: Storywell Counseling
If you’re curious about whether EMDR might be right for you, I’d love to talk with you. At Storywell Counseling in Columbus, Ohio, we offer a safe, compassionate space to explore your healing journey. We specialize in trauma therapy and EMDR for clients dealing with PTSD, anxiety, negative beliefs, and past traumatic experiences. You don’t have to have all the answers or be certain that EMDR is the right fit. Just bring your curiosity and your willingness to explore.
Contact us today to schedule a session, and let’s discover together what path toward healing might work best for you. You can reach out through our website at www.storywellcounseling.com, call us at 614-300-7043, or email us at info@storywellcounseling.com to get started. We’re here to help you find healing and move forward with confidence.
