EMDR THERAPY

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy
designed to help people heal from the symptoms of emotional distress caused by traumatic
experiences. It works by using bilateral stimulation—typically guided eye movements, sounds,
or taps—while a patient focuses on distressing memories, allowing the brain to reprocess and
lessen the emotional charge of those memories.

EMDR was developed by Francine Shapiro in 1987 and is recognized by organizations like the
American Psychological Association (APA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as an
effective treatment for trauma.

EMDR focuses on the idea that traumatic memories can become “stuck” in the brain, causing
persistent symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety. Bilateral stimulation (side-to-side
eye movements, tapping, or sounds) helps the brain process these memories and store them in
a less distressing way.

While primarily used for PTSD, EMDR is effective for treating anxiety, depression, panic attacks,
phobias, chronic pain, and addiction. It is generally faster than traditional talk therapy and does
not require detailed, verbal recounting of traumatic events. It helps patients replace negative
self-beliefs with positive, adaptive, and empowering thoughts.

While generally safe, some individuals may experience side effects during the process, including
intense emotions or physical sensations as memories are processed, and sometimes, vivid
dreams after sessions.

Unlike other treatments that focus on directly altering the emotions, thoughts and responses
resulting from traumatic experiences, EMDR therapy focuses directly on the memory, and is
intended to change the way that the memory is stored in the brain, thus reducing and
eliminating the problematic symptoms. It does not include extended exposure to the
distressing memory, detailed descriptions of the trauma, challenging dysfunctional beliefs, or
homework assignments.

The phases of EMDR are as follows:
− History-taking and treatment planning. In addition to getting a full history and
conducting appropriate assessment, the therapist and client work together to identify
targets for treatment. Targets include past memories, current triggers, and future goals.
− Preparation. The therapist offers an explanation for the treatment, and introduces the
client to the procedures, practicing eye movement and/or other BLS components. The
therapist ensures that the client has adequate resources for effect management.
− Assessment. The third phase of EMDR, assessment, activates the memory that is being
targeted in the session, by identifying and assessing each of the memory components:
image, cognition, effect, and body sensation.
− Two measures are used during EMDR therapy sessions to evaluate changes in emotion
and cognition: the Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD) scale and the Validity of
Cognition (VOC) scale. Both measures are used again during the treatment process, in
accordance with standardized procedures.

− Desensitization. During this phase, the client focuses on the memory while engaging in
eye movement. Then, the client reports whatever new thoughts have emerged. The
therapist determines the focus using standardized procedures. Usually, the associated
material becomes the focus of the next session. This process continues until the client
reports that the memory is no longer distressing.
− Installation. The fifth phase of EMDR is installation, which strengthens the preferred
positive cognition.
− Body scan. The sixth phase of EMDR is the body scan, in which clients are asked to
observe their physical response while thinking of the incident and the positive cognition,
and identify any residual somatic distress. If the client reports any disturbance,
standardized procedures are used to process it.
− Closure. Closure is used to end the session. If the targeted memory was not fully
processed in the session, specific instructions and techniques are used to provide
containment and ensure safety until the next session.
− Re-evaluation. The next session starts with phase eight, re-evaluation, during which the
therapist evaluates the client’s current psychological state, whether treatment effects
have maintained, what memories may have emerged since the last session, and works
with the client to identify targets for the current session.
For questions or appointments, contact us on our website or call (585) 442-6960.