What Is EMDR and How Might It Benefit You?

EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing – is a therapeutic modality designed to assist people in processing traumatic memories that talk therapy alone may not be able to reach. Most therapists will tell you that trauma remains in the body and mind long after the precipitating event(s). While it may feel safer to repress painful memories, the adage stands that ‘what we don’t feel, we can’t heal.’

EMDR was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987. As a seasoned therapist and researcher, she was included in the ‘Cadre of Experts’ of the American Psychological Association & Canadian Psychological Association Joint Initiative on Ethnopolitical Warfare and has served as advisor to a wide variety of trauma treatment and outreach organizations and journals.”

Dr. Shapiro accidentally discovered the modality while she was taking a walk in the midst of cancer treatment. She noticed that when she inadvertently moved her eyes from side to side, she felt calmer and more emotionally at peace. The eye movement mimics Rapid Eye Movement that occurs when we sleep.

EMDR relies on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, a theory about how the brain stores memories. Think about a mildly upsetting event in your life, one that doesn’t cause excessive distress. Can you still notice even mild butterflies in your stomach or heart palpitations? Multiply that 10 x and then 100 x and that is what a PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) reaction might feel like. The body and mind relive the incident as if it is happening at the moment, even though it might have been decades in the past. The physiological and psychological reactions mimic what was happening back then, sometimes sending the person experiencing the instant recall into a tailspin of dysfunction. Add to it beliefs about oneself that are formed as a result of the experience. A question to ask could be, ‘what am I making this experience mean?’

Some examples of conditions that EMDR treats: anxiety, depression, and PTSD from childhood abuse, witnessing a murder or suicide, surviving a fire or natural disaster, the impact of being an active-duty military person, or being unable to save people as a first responder. Multiple layers of trauma or loss can exacerbate the symptoms that EMDR can address.

A first-hand experience of one trauma survivor’s healing as a result of sessions of EMDR can be viewed here. The way a session proceeds is with the client utilizing lateral eye movements as they recall a traumatic experience.

According to data shared by the EMDR Institute that was founded by Dr. Shapiro, “some of the studies show that 84%-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after only three 90-minute sessions. Another study, funded by the HMO Kaiser Permanente, found that 100% of the single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims no longer were diagnosed with PTSD after only six 50-minute sessions. In another study, 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD in 12 sessions.”

The process is broken down into an eight-stage process, with the initial stage focused on data/information collection and the final stage assessing progress as a result of the interventions that came between. A simple way to explain it is that it seems to reframe the incidents and the ways in which the brain and body process them.

As part of the process, the therapist will ask the client to come up with core belief statements that reflect the client’s feelings, such as “I am a failure,” or “I am broken,” or “I will never be good enough.” The next assignment is to come up with positive affirming statements, such as “I am feeling more balanced and healthier each day.” “I am a resilient thriver.” “I am loveable and capable.”

Most of those who have experienced this modality have expressed that EMDR was lifesaving and in many cases, helped them to fully heal from their trauma. Many have recognized that their traumatic experiences were not their fault and that they weren’t irretrievably broken.

Dr. Shapiro died on June 16th 2019. Her contribution to the therapeutic field is immeasurable.

There are trainings available for professionals who want to be certified in this modality. A list of practitioners who offer EMDR can be found on the Psychology Today site.

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