What Happens in a Typical EMDR Session?
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR for short, is a well-established form of psychotherapy designed to help empower our internal power of self-healing. This counseling technique is premised on the idea that just as our body has tools to heal itself from physical injury, our mind also has the ability to heal itself from emotional distress. However, trauma, abuse, or other emotional disturbance can block the mind’s ability to heal; the goal of EMDR is to remove this blockage and thus facilitate powerful self-healing.
EMDR may be an appropriate therapy for anyone who has suffered any kind of accident, trauma, abuse, or tragic event that is causing emotional distress, regardless of whether the source of the emotional trauma was a recent one-time accident or a pattern of events that occurred over time. It is appropriate for children, adolescents, and adults alike. When conducted by a trained counselor or therapist, EMDR can be highly effective in the treatment of a variety of emotional symptoms of trauma, such as:
Depression
Grief
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Phobias/fears
Poor self esteem
Sleep disruption
Compassion fatigue
EMDR has even proven highly effective in treating the most severe form of emotional distress, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), common in military veterans and first responders.
What Does EMDR Treatment Involve?
EMDR therapy involves eight distinct phases. The intensity and duration of each phase is dependent on each unique patient and how well he or she responds to the therapy.
Phase 1: History. Together, the counselor and client review the client’s history in order to identify distressing memories and possible targets for EMDR processing, as well as discuss the appropriate counseling approach and development of necessary skills to facilitate future sessions.
Phase 2: Coping skills. The therapist works with the client to develop multiple mechanisms for coping with emotional distress, including stress reduction techniques to be used both during and between therapy sessions.
Phases 3-6: Reprocessing begins. These sessions are where the “magic” happens. During these counseling sessions, the client and therapist together work through specific memories, negative beliefs, and emotional focus while engaging in sets of bilateral stimulation such as eye movements or repeated gentle taps. During these sessions, negative sensations are effectively transformed into positive and empowering feelings and thoughts.
Phase 7: Closure. During the closure phase, the client will keep track—through a written log—of any continued episodes of emotional distress, in order to identify areas requiring future treatment but also to help the client internalize the self-calming mechanisms mastered during Phase 2.
Phase 8. In the final phase of EMDR therapy, the client and therapist together review progress made thus far in treatment.
What Happens in an EMDR Treatment Session?
EMDR therapy sessions take place in a therapeutic space that feels warm, welcoming, and safe. This may be your therapist’s office or a special counseling area specifically designed for EMDR. During each EMDR therapy session—depending on what phase of the treatment you are in—your therapist will guide you through a series of questions or ask you to focus on a memory or emotional sensation while you watch his or her hand as it moves gently across your field of vision. As the hand movement simulates the Rapid Eye Movement we experience during sleep, painful memories are triggered, processed, and eventually reprogrammed without the painful, negative sensations blocking the mind’s ability to self-heal the emotional turmoil. Although these sensations can be powerful and intense, they are not uncomfortable and require only minimal verbal communication between counselor and client.
EMDR therapy may not be appropriate for everyone; it is not appropriate for individuals with certain mental health disorders or who are actively engaged in self-harming behaviors. However, if you are struggling with PTSD, anxiety, depression, or other emotional disturbances caused by abuse, trauma, or serious accident, EMDR with a trained, licensed therapist may help you unlock your ability to heal—and empower—yourself!
Collaborative Therapeutic Services (CTS) seeks to maximize clients’ options by offering a variety of services, hours, and service providers with diverse specializations. We offer evening & weekend appointments. Have questions? Contact Us Here or Call 813-951-7346. Located in Tampa, Florida.