When people talk about trauma therapy, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and distressing memories, one term that often comes up is EMDR. But what is EMDR, how does it work, and who can benefit from it? In this article, we’ll demystify EMDR and explore why it’s become one of the leading evidence-based treatments for trauma and related mental health issues.
What Does EMDR Stand For?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based, integrative form of psychotherapy that has been proven effective for the treatment of trauma. Essentially, it facilitates the healing of the intangible.
Experiencing trauma and the ongoing distress of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be like living with an invisible wound. Often, our traumatic memories are stuck, unable to be processed and healed. Before treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, people often lived their entire lifetimes with the pain of the past overlaying their present, never allowing them to feel fully settled or truly healed outside of the distress of their traumatic memories.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR works differently from traditional talk therapy. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing has a direct effect on the way the brain processes information—including trauma. EMDR helps people access and process traumatic memories that are “stuck” on repeat in the mind.
Following a successful EMDR session, normal information processing is resumed so that a person no longer relives the images, sounds, and feelings when the event is brought to mind. While a person can still remember the experience, it becomes less painful and less distressing.
Utilizing eye movements and other forms of bilateral stimulation (like hand tapping or auditory cues), EMDR activates the brain in a way that helps process, heal, and resolve difficult memories. After sessions of EMDR, patients often feel less distress, less conflicted association with their traumatic memories, and experience a greater sense of relief from their past. In addition, EMDR can help to alleviate many of the physical symptoms of arousal and hyper-arousal, which can come with PTSD or emotional distress.
What Happens During an EMDR Session?
During an EMDR session, you’ll work with a therapist or clinician who is specially trained and certified in EMDR administration and trauma care. Initial sessions focus on trauma history, understanding the EMDR process, and setting goals. During active EMDR sessions, you’ll recall a disturbing memory while focusing on an external stimulus, such as following the therapist’s finger with your eyes, experiencing hand tapping, or listening to alternating sounds.
The stimulation helps the brain process traumatic memories that may feel unreachable or overwhelming. With your practitioner’s guidance, these memories can be “rewritten” or have new sensations and associations attached to them. As a result, traumatic memories become “unstuck.” As they are relieved, people are able to find peace in both mind and body. EMDR can, therefore, be thought of as a physiologically based therapy that helps a person see disturbing material in a new, less distressing way.
Does EMDR Really Work?
According to the EMDR Institute, “More than 30 positive controlled outcome studies have been done on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy,” with some studies showing that after only three 90-minute sessions, “84%–90% of single-trauma victims no longer have post-traumatic stress disorder.” Just three sessions can change a diagnosis and relieve what could have been a lifetime of distress.
EMDR is widely used in the treatment of mental illness, substance use disorders, and other scenarios to heal not just traumatic memories, but any kind of disturbing memories that might be affecting an individual’s quality of life. It’s recognized by leading organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization as an effective, first-line treatment for PTSD.
Who Can Benefit from EMDR?
EMDR was originally developed for PTSD, but it is now used to treat a wide range of conditions, including:
- Trauma from accidents, assault, or disaster
- Childhood abuse or neglect
- Grief and complicated loss
- Phobias and panic attacks
- Anxiety, depression, and low self-worth
- Disturbing memories from medical procedures or other difficult experiences
What to Expect
A licensed mental health professional usually provides EMDR with specialized EMDR training. Treatment length can vary—some people see improvement in just a few sessions, while others may need longer, especially if multiple traumas exist. EMDR is often used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, which may include other therapies, support groups, and medication management when needed.
Takeaway: EMDR Offers Real Hope for Healing
If you or a loved one is struggling with the lingering effects of trauma, EMDR may be a powerful path to relief. At Hanley Center, our trauma-informed clinicians are experienced in EMDR and other evidence-based therapies designed to help you move forward, feel safer, and regain control of your life.
Hanley Center has been helping achieve wellness for more than 40 years. In addition to providing age- and gender-specific treatment for substance use and co-occurring disorders, Hanley offers a Patriots Program for first responders and veterans, a program specifically for pregnant women, and a boutique residential mental health program for adults. For information on our programs, call us today: 561-841-1033.
