If you're not as familiar with the medical world, all of the different medical lingo, phrases, and acronyms can feel like you're a bit out of your element. The therapy world is no different.
You may have come across many different acronyms while trying to see which therapy option would be best suited for you. CBT, DBT, EMDR, and EFT are just a few of the many different acronyms that are used for a wide variety of therapy approaches.
There are a ton of different options out there because no two people's needs will be exactly the same. While the different options are amazing, it can also be overwhelming when you're first diving into the world of therapy.
EMDR is still a relatively new type of therapy option, but it's becoming more common in today's world. Let's take a deeper dive and learn more about EMDR therapy.
What is EMDR?
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing or EMDR is one of the many different options of psychotherapy. It is designed to help individuals alleviate the stress and anxiety that is associated with certain traumatic memories. The idea behind this therapy is that the memories related to a traumatic event get stuck in the brain. With the help of EMDR, a client's own eye movements, similar to eye movements during the REM cycle, can help them process and move past any negative memories associated with trauma.
The Phases of EMDR
There are eight phases of EMDR:
History and Treatment Planning
Preparation
Assessment
Desensitization
Installation
Body Scan
Closure
Reevaluation
What EMDR Looks Like
An EMDR session can last between 60 and 9o minutes. During the EMDR sessions, a therapist will work with you to move your fingers, light, or tapping sensations to help direct your attention or eye movement back and forth, left to right. While this is taking place, your therapist will have you think about a certain memory associated with the traumatic event that you're trying to move past. Your therapist and you will work together to recall any emotions or physical responses and bodily sensations that happen during this process. Throughout the EMDR sessions, your therapist will work to help shift those negative thoughts to more positive ones. Toward the end of your sessions, you should feel little to no negative emotions about that traumatic event.
The Benefits of EMDR
Although EMDR is a new treatment option, it's already seen great success and a lot of benefits with individuals who have gone through this form of treatment. These are some of the benefits of EMDR therapy:
Don't Have to Relive the Traumatic Event
Traditional forms of therapy often mean having to talk about your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Experiencing a traumatic event one time can be enough. It may be hard for an individual to want to open up and relive that traumatic event over and over again. EMDR focuses on moving past the trauma instead of having you walk through every single detail and relive the negative event. This can be a lot less stressful for individuals, especially when it comes to trauma.
Less Homework Outside of Sessions
Other therapy options usually involve homework assignments that are given by a therapist to a client to complete in between sessions. The only homework that happens with EMDR is just keeping track of anything that you may want to bring up during your next session.
Quick Results
EMDR is a highly effective form of therapy. Not only is it effective, but it shows results quicker than more traditional forms of therapy. Most people can see improvements in as little as 8 to 12 sessions.
Next Steps
EMDR is a well-suited treatment option for mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, panic attacks, and more. If you're interested in learning more about EMDR therapy and how it can help you and your needs, reach out to us today to set up an initial consultation.