What is EMDR?
EMDR or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is an evidence-based trauma treatment that takes advantage of your brain’s natural ability to sort information by simulating the power of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycles using bilateral stimulation (BLS). BLS is a term for any stimulus on both sides of the body which allows both left and right hemispheres of the brain to communicate (eye movement, alternating tapping or auditory clicking/beeping, etc.) EMDR is effective because the brain works much faster than our words or ability to narrate our experiences.
What to expect in EMDR treatment here
EMDR as explained by Harry Potter video here
What is Trauma?
Trauma is generally defined by something very stressful, frightening or distressing that may be out of control or difficult to manage; an experience that overwhelms your nervous system forcing you into a fight, flight, or freeze response. When something like this happens, your brain cannot sort it in the same way it would with memories that are not as distressing. When unmanaged or ignored, these responses may be triggered and resurface after receiving an email at work, during a conflict with a sibling or coworker, or when interacting with customer service.
Our social understanding of trauma often minimizes and invalidates many traumatic experiences. You may think, “I’m not a trauma survivor, I didn’t experience that kind of abuse” or “Everybody’s family has problems.” However, even if we don’t consciously acknowledge the pain of our experiences, the body holds onto the stress of the past and exacerbates other symptoms like anxiety, depression, compulsive behavior, like substance use or compensatory overeating, obsessive tendencies, chronic pain, perfectionism, and codependence, to name a few. This can lead to confusion and frustration for people who may have tried for years to manage these symptoms.
How does EMDR work?
One piece of healing is to learn coping strategies to help you manage your symptoms; however, without somatic release of the pain of the past, it is similar to putting a band-aid on a leak resulting in ongoing build up of tension in the body. If you’ve ever had to choose between cramming and sleeping the night before a big exam or presentation, you know from experience that trying to process a large amount of information the night before is next to useless compared to the benefits of sleep. During sleep, your brain is busy sorting information, memories, and experiences from the day. Each sleep cycle lasts only 90 minutes and you begin dreaming during REM or the rapid eye movement cycle when your brain puts together a movie of thoughts, images, and elements from your life. You may or may not remember your dreams when you wake up, but this cycle is critical to sorting your memories and experiences. When something traumatic or particularly stressful that exceeds your ability to cope in the moment happens, your brain cannot sort the information in the same way it would after a typical day.
EMDR takes advantage of the existing map of experiences and beliefs in your brain and capitalizes on your natural ability to sort memories and experiences. You have two sides of your brain, right and left. The right side is where your amygdala fires up creating responses like fear and aggression. The left side is where more logical processes happen, like numbers and language. The left hemisphere controls the right-hand side of the body and vice versa. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (BLS), including rapid eye movements (REM) and tapping, to help both sides of the brain to communicate, allowing for the brain to sort these stressful memories and release discomfort stored in the body.
What can you expect in EMDR treatment?
Based on your current experience and goals for treatment, we will decide together during your first 15 minute consult meeting if my skills and approach are best suited to meet your needs right now. Once we agree to work together, you can expect the following:
Establishing a Therapeutic Relationship: The initial sessions will focus on building a therapeutic relationship together. Trust is an important part of this process and involves discussing your concerns, goals, and expectations for therapy
Assessment and Treatment Planning: We will build a mutual understanding of your specific needs and develop a treatment plan for you. This includes your history, current symptoms, and any particularly stressful or traumatic experiences
EMDR Therapy Techniques:
Mapping Target Memories: During our treatment planning sessions, we will identify specific distressing memories or events that you wish to process. One of the benefits of EMDR is that you do not have to identify or discuss specific details of these memories for the treatment to be effective
Bilateral stimulation (BLS): You will receive a link to remotEMDR, a platform equipped with audio (listening to alternating sounds in each ear) and visual cues (following an icon from once side of the screen to another with your eyes) to facilitate processing
Processing and Integration: As you experience the bilaterlal stimulation, you may notice shifts in your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. Between rounds of BLS, I will help you process these experiences and integrate them into the rest of your experience
Ongoing monitoring and adjustments: We will regularly monitor your progress and make adjustments to the treatment plan together as needed. This can include revisiting past targets, addressing new concerns, or incorporating other therapeutic techniques
Important Considerations:
Technical Requirements: A reliable internet connection and device (computer, laptop, tablet) with a stable camera and microphone are required for effective telehealth treatment
Privacy and Confidentiality: I adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines to ensure the safety and privacy of your sessions. I recommend you prepare a quiet and comfortable space for your sessions where you can feel safe and undisturbed
This one's for my fellow millennials
Is there a better way to explain a complex concept than with a pop culture* reference from the early 2000’s?
TLDR: In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, Harry speaks to the horcrux locket allowing it to open, which then makes it possible for Ron to destroy the locket’s manipulative influence over him with the sword of Gryffindor. Ron was always capable of destroying the locket with his strength and courage, however, opening it was the only way to get to the source of the dark magic and the special sword is the only tool to truly destroy the locket once and for all.
In this analogy, your EMDR facilitator (Harry) creates the opportunity for you to access your strength and courage (your pre-existing strengths and good qualities). EMDR processing (sword) takes away the power of painful experiences that have become stuck in your body, like Voldemort’s soul in a horcrux.
*The use of this analogy does not reflect my endorsement of she who shall not be named