What Is EMDR Therapy? How It Works and What to Expect
If you've heard of EMDR but aren't quite sure what it actually involves, I invite you to read on!
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a trauma-focused therapy that can help people process distressing memories and experiences that continue to affect them in the present.
So, what does EMDR actually look like?
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (BLS), which is a fancy way of saying alternating stimulation from one side of the body to the other. This might involve eye movements, sounds, or tapping.
EMDR is particularly well established as a treatment for PTSD and trauma-related symptoms.
And despite the name, you don't have to move your eyes for EMDR to be EMDR.
How does EMDR work?
Sometimes experiences that were overwhelming or difficult to process can continue to feel emotionally or physically present, even when we know they're in the past.
You might notice this when something happening now triggers a reaction that feels much bigger than the situation seems to call for.
EMDR helps you work with memories, emotions, beliefs, and body sensations that may still be connected to those experiences. The goal isn't to erase what happened. It's to help the memory feel less distressing and less activating in the present.
What can EMDR help with?
EMDR is an established treatment for PTSD and trauma-related symptoms.
Depending on your individual circumstances, it may also be used to work with:
Anxiety and fear
Grief and loss
Anger or intense emotional reactions
Shame and negative self-beliefs
Self-worth and self-confidence
Flashbacks and intrusive memories
Childhood or developmental trauma
Emotional neglect
Complex or repeated trauma
Your therapist can help you determine whether EMDR is appropriate for your specific needs.
What do EMDR sessions look like?
The beginning of EMDR may look a lot like other therapy. You'll talk about what's bringing you to therapy, your history, and what you'd like to change. Your therapist may also use assessments to determine where to start with EMDR therapy and whether it is a good fit for you for right now..
Building resources
Before processing difficult memories, you'll build tools to help you stay grounded and regulated. This might include visualization, breathing, grounding, and resourcing exercises.
Choosing targets
EMDR is collaborative. You and your therapist will identify targets to work with. These might be memories, beliefs, emotions, body sensations, or experiences that continue to affect you.
Reprocessing
This is the part most people associate with EMDR. You'll focus on a target while engaging in sets of bilateral stimulation.
Your therapist might ask:
“What do you notice?”
“What did you get there?”
or simply state:
“Go with that.”
And importantly, you don't have to tell the whole story of what happened for EMDR to be effective.
Do I have to talk about my trauma?
Not necessarily.
You'll need to share enough information for your therapist to understand what you're working with and to provide safe, appropriate care.
But you don't have to describe every detail of a traumatic experience.
EMDR can involve working with the emotions, beliefs, or body sensations connected to an experience rather than repeatedly talking through everything that happened.
Does EMDR only work with eye movements?
Nope! Bilateral stimulation can happen in several ways, including:
Eye movements
Alternating sounds
Vibrating tappers
Light bars
Therapist-guided tapping
Self-tapping, such as the butterfly hug
EMDR can also be offered online or in person, depending on the therapist, their training, and your individual needs.
What if I'm neurodivergent?
EMDR can be adapted to the individual. If you're neurodivergent, your therapist can consider things like sensory preferences, auditory sensitivity, movement, communication style, and how you experience and communicate distress when deciding how to approach bilateral stimulation and trauma processing.
A neuroaffirming approach means you don't have to force yourself into a particular way of doing therapy.
Is EMDR right for me?
You don't need to know before reaching out. EMDR is one possible approach to trauma therapy, and it isn't the right fit for everyone or every stage of therapy. If you're curious, you can talk with a trained therapist about what you're experiencing and whether EMDR might be a good fit for you.
EMDR therapy in Guelph and online
If you're looking for EMDR therapy in Guelph, Ontario, I offer trauma-informed, neurodivergent affirming therapy for adults navigating difficult or overwhelming experiences, or the effects of trauma.
If you're curious about whether EMDR might be a good fit for you, I invite you to reach out!
