What Happens in an EMDR Session?
EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, is a form of therapy that assists individuals in addressing the emotional difficulties and symptoms that stem from traumatic experiences or deeply ingrained negative self-perceptions. It taps into the brain's natural healing processes, allowing individuals to process traumatic memories more effectively.
EMDR therapy is based on the Adaptive Information Processing model, which suggests that traumatic experiences interfere with the brain's inherent information-processing capabilities. Using bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), EMDR helps "unstick" these traumatic memories, allowing the brain to reprocess them more healthily.
What Happens in an EMDR Session?
This initial phase, also known as information gathering, typically spans one or two sessions, during which you'll delve into your personal history, life experiences, and relationships. The therapist will work with you to identify potential targets for EMDR processing, which may include recent distressing events, current emotional triggers, related historical incidents, and specific skills needed for future situations.
During this stage, your therapist will explain how EMDR works, ensuring you understand the process and feel comfortable with the approach. You'll discuss the various tools used in EMDR, such as the light bar, and determine which method suits you best. Your therapist will then guide you in creating a mental "safe place" — a calming image or memory you can return to during challenging moments in therapy.
Creating a Safe Space
Here, your therapist will focus on helping you achieve a sense of calm and balance. You'll work together to assess your ability to handle emotional stress and understand your capacity for dissociation. They will introduce you to left/right eye movements, combining them with calming imagery and thoughts. This is to help you develop effective coping mechanisms.
You'll also work on creating a "safe place" — an emotional sanctuary where you can mentally retreat when feeling overwhelmed. The primary goal of establishing a safe place is to demonstrate that you can quickly transition from a distressed state to a calm one.
Memory Processing
During the memory processing phase of EMDR therapy, you'll be asked to concentrate on a specific traumatic event. Your therapist will guide you to identify the most vivid visual image related to the trauma, along with any negative beliefs about yourself, associated emotions, and physical sensations. As you focus on these elements, your therapist will reintroduce the gentle, rhythmic eye movements from earlier sessions.
Throughout this process, your therapist will gradually guide you to shift your thoughts towards more positive ones. You'll be encouraged to think of a "preferred positive belief," such as "I am strong and in control of this situation."
This phase involves repeated sets of eye movements, each lasting a few minutes. Between sets, your therapist will check in with you and guide you to the next focus based on your observations. You'll maintain full control throughout. You can pause the process at any time if needed. The goal is to continue until the traumatic event becomes less disturbing.
Closure and Revision/Re-evaluation
In the final stages of EMDR therapy, you may be asked to keep a journal between sessions. This practice serves two important purposes: it allows you to document any thoughts or emotions that arise throughout the week, and it reinforces the effectiveness of self-calming techniques you've learned. Maintaining this record creates valuable material to discuss with your therapist during your next session.
During these concluding sessions, you'll revisit the memories that have been processed. Your therapist will help you evaluate whether these memories still trigger distress or if their emotional impact has diminished.
Many clients report significant improvements after completing EMDR processing. Typically, the emotional distress associated with traumatic memories is either greatly reduced or eliminated.
Are you ready to explore the transformative power of EMDR therapy? Our LGBTQIA+-friendly practice offers a comprehensive approach to mental health, with a large office team and convenient telehealth options. We specialize in treating a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, OCD, and ADHD. Book a consultation today.
