EMDR Psychotherapy
According to the American Psychological Society, EMDR is, ‘A structured therapy that encourages the patient to briefly focus on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories.’
Research by Van der Kolk, et. al. in 2007 showed that EMDR was even more effective than Prozac in trauma treatment. Ongoing research also supports the efficacy of EMDR in treating many other conditions such as anxiety, depression, addictions, OCD, Chronic pain and other distressing life events.
There are 7 stages to EMDR, making it a comprehensive psychotherapy when practised as such. Sometimes there are misconceptions around this, or rather presumptions that EMDR is jumping into trauma immediately and using eye-movements and other forms of BLS (Bi-Lateral Stimulation) clear it.
The stages start with History taking which needs to be done in a very comprehensive way. We then move on to Client Preparation, using resourcing and imagery to achieve this. The next stage is Assessment, which is where we take a more in depth look into specific memories to target, before we go near the traumatic memory in stages 4-7, thereby building up the tools you may need to safely work through your trauma. We end with Closure and Re-Evaluation, which ensures a complete and thorough evaluation of trauma and its impact.
You will be encouraged to keep an EMDR journal and will be given plenty of tools and methods to work on yourself in-between sessions. All of these components are important parts of the integrative process, and add to a successful outcome.
Below is the link to a useful information leaflet on EMDR which is available online and will take you through in more details how the therapy works and what to expect.