Our Therapies

EMDR Therapy

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is a therapy that aims to process traumatic and distressing memories. To give a very brief summary, EMDR is based on a theory that we have a system in our brain that processes memories while we are in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. However, some memories get stuck and are not able to be processed in this way. The aim of the eye movements in EMDR, or bilateral stimulation of some kind, is to activate this system in session and allow the brain to process these distressing memories using its own mechanism. EMDR has a very strong empirical evidence base, and is recognised by the American Psychological Association (APA), and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

What presentations can EMDR be used for and how do I know if I’m a suitable candidate for this type of therapy?

EMDR can be effective for a vast array of concerns. It is often the case that underlying anxiety, depression, as well as of course Post Traumatic Stress Disroder (PTSD) and many other symptoms are caused by distressing memories. EMDR can be extremely effective in helping you to process these memories and shifting the sensations, body feelings, and negative beliefs about yourself that are stored with these memories.

EMDR is not a therapy that is appropriate for everyone. It requires activating and being present in very distressing memories, which means you need to feel emotionally stable with strong coping mechanisms before being able to begin. This can mean that for some people there will need to be a lot of work done building this stability before we can start the EMDR processing. It is also not often appropriate when there are current very stressful events going on in your life.

What happens during an EMDR session?

There is a lot of preparation and lead up before EMDR processing begins, the length of which will be different for every person. Of course, it is important to identify together which memories are going to be best to target for you and in what order, and then we spend time in sessions learning grounding and containing strategies so that you feel ready for the processing.

Once the processing has begun, a session will start by activating the target memory by playing it through in your mind, and identifying the body sensations and cognitions that are present when playing the memory. Then the therapist will move their fingers from left to right about a meter in front of your eyes so that you can track their fingers. They will do this for a variable amount of time (about 30 seconds up to two minutes) and then check in with you what you experienced while tracking their fingers. They are only looking for a couple of sentences to check if your brain is still on the right track, and won’t say very much before doing another set of eye movements. This can feel a bit strange at first, but the therapist is trying to stay out of the way and let your brain do the work! If a person prefers to have their eyes closed or is not able to do the eye movements for whatever reason, the therapist may also use tapping or auditory sounds changing from one side of your body to other (bilateral stimulation) at points, as this can be just as effective as the eye movements.

How can EMDR benefit people?

EMDR can be really effective at shifting the root causes of many types of concerns you come to therapy for. It is common for people to know something on a cognitive level; for example, that something wasn’t your fault, but to not believe this on an emotional level. EMDR can shift this entirely. Processing memories that have become stuck can also reduce or entirely stop flashbacks and re-experiencing of traumatic events.

Can EMDR be applied to all mental health problems?

EMDR can be applied to a range of mental health problems other than PTSD presentations, however it cannot be applied to everything. This is something to talk to your therapist about, as there is no clear rule. One easy way to think about it, is EMDR can process memories, and shift negative thoughts/beliefs about self and shift uncomfortable body sensations (if they are linked to unprocessed memories). However, EMDR cannot teach new skills or fill developmental gaps.

How long does EMDR take?

EMDR is not a short therapy, and also is not something that a therapist will rush into. It is very important that you feel safe in therapy, is relatively stable in your everyday life, and have an array of coping strategies you can utilise, before we start the EMDR processing.

Processing memories can take a different amount of time for every person, depending on the memory, and the previous work you have done sitting with and understanding the memory. It can take anywhere from fifteen minutes to eight fifty-minute sessions to do one memory. However, the first memory targeted will typically take a lot longer than the subsequent memories.

If you would like to learn more about engaging in EMDR therapy at Little Window, please feel free to contact us and chat to one of our friendly Client Support Team.

We have two Therapists on our team able to provide EMDR therapy. To read about Hannah Lupo click here and to read about April Laczko click here.