WHAT IS EMDR THERAPY?

by Deann Ware, Ph.D.

EMDR is "Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing" therapy. 

EMDR is a  shorter-term, targeted therapeutic technique with high efficacy for symptom relief.  Originally developed for relief from trauma symptoms, the EMDR protocol has been adapted to address a wide range of emotional challenges, including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and phobias. 

The simple act of moving one's eyes from left to right (bilateral stimulation) while thinking about upsetting information has a healing effect.  This therapeutic technique was discovered by chance over 30 years ago when Dr. Shapiro, the founder of EMDR, happened to start moving her eyes left-to-right while she was thinking about an upsetting event in her life.  Since its inception, EMDR has undergone rigorous scientific investigation and its effectiveness as a therapeutic technique is endorsed by:

  • The American Psychiatric Association

  • The American Psychological Association

  • The US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)

  • The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) & Department of Defense (DoD)

  • The World Health Organization (WHO)

Using the Adaptive Information Processing model, EMDR desensitizes upsetting material/memories, integrates the material with more adaptive memories, and allows for healthier responses to stressful (triggering) situations.  EMDR does not "erase" memories; rather, EMDR strips the automatic and physiological reactions (anxiety, fear, anger, racing heart, flashbacks, difficulty speaking, "punch in the gut," etc.) that accompany difficult/traumatic memories. 

EMDR is significantly different from talk therapy.  In EMDR, you don't have to talk about traumatic memories--you just need to think about the memories while the therapist guides you through the bilateral stimulation (eye movements).  This approach has obvious advantages for those who feel re-traumatized when asked to recount details of a traumatic event.


Is EMDR an empirically validated treatment?

Yes; you can find a comprehensive bibliography here:
https://www.emdr.com/research-overview/

What does research on EMDR show?

In addition to clients' self-reports of improvement, studies have found neurological and physiological changes during and after EMDR:

  • Left frontal lobe activation, which is hypothesized to lead to improved emotional regulation

  • Decreased occipital activation, which is hypothesized to contribute to decreased "flashbacks"

  • Decreased temporal lobe activation, which is hypothesized to reduce intrusive memories
  • Following EMDR--decreased physiological arousal and reactivity when exposed to the triggering event/memory

Dr. Uri Bergmann's comprehensive review can be found here:
"EMDR's Neurobiological Mechanisms of Action:  A Survey of 20 Years of Searching"


What is an EMDR session like?

There's a standard protocol for EMDR therapy, which begins with a relaxation exercise.  I use a light bar to guide your eye movements.  (Of note--the light bar itself is not important--it's only a mechanism to guide your eyes from left to right.  This is not "light therapy.")  Even though I will be sitting close to you so I can monitor your eye movements, there won't be any physical contact between us during EMDR. 

The EMDR protocol involves selecting a "target memory" and I'll walk you through this process.  There are several types of target memories we can focus on, such as:

  • A traumatic experience

  • The first time you remember feeling a certain way or reacting a certain way (the target symptom)

  • The worst experience you can recall of feeling or reacting a certain way

  • A recent example of feeling or reacting in a certain way

During EMDR, you don't need to do a lot of talking about your memories--in fact, less talking is often better.  Because your brain is reprocessing information using several modalities of cognition, the act of verbalizing can impede the other cognitive processes.  During an EMDR session, I will ask about what is going on, but I don't need a lot of detail.  In fact, I will try to keep the talking to a minimum in order to keep the reprocessing moving forward. 

Many clients want to know if EMDR is similar to hypnosis--it is not.

Hypnosis seeks to place a participant into a trance-like state while EMDR has an activating effect on the neural pathways involved in emotional regulation and memory consolidation. 

Does EMDR replace talk therapy?

No, EMDR is used in conjunction with talk therapy.

Why have I never heard of EMDR?  Is this a "New Age" therapy?

EMDR is a relatively new technique--Dr. Shapiro first noticed the benefits of eye movements in 1985.  The body of research supporting the efficacy of EMDR has grown exponentially over the past decade, as evidenced by its acceptance by the APA, VA, DoD, WHO, etc.  In 2017, the American Psychological Association released new Guidelines for Treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and EMDR is one of the recommended modalities of treatment. 

Because EMDR is a specialized technique, EMDR training is beyond the scope of a graduate school program.  To be officially trained in EMDR, one must complete three stages of training taught by the EMDR Institute and their certified consultants.  This training is costly and time-intensive, so many mental health practitioners simply do not add this tool to their therapeutic tool kit.  Therefore, many clients are not offered or educated about this technique.

As a licensed psychologist with a doctorate in clinical psychology and a post doc in neuropsychology, I use only therapeutic interventions that have been researched, validated, and accepted within the scientific community.  When I first heard of EMDR, I thought the concept sounded silly.  However, after over 30 years of research and refinement of the treatment protocol, an abundance of empirical studies validate the effectiveness of EMDR.  After reading volumes of research and talking to individuals who participated in EMDR, I decided to invest in EMDR training.  My work with clients in my private practice has further confirmed to me that EMDR is effective, efficient, and offers something different than talk therapy. 


Where can I get more information on EMDR?

www.emdr.com

www.emdria.org

For a comprehensive Q&A session about EMDR with Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., the founder of EMDR, see this New York Times blog post. 

Recommended book:  Getting Past Your Past (2013) Shapiro, Francine.

Deann Ware, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and is fully trained in EMDR. 

She completed her training with the EMDR Institute, founded by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. The EMDR Institute is considered the "gold standard" in training by the EMDR International Association, the professional organization responsible for setting standards for training and practice of EMDR.  Dr. Ware is a full member in good standing with the EMDR International Association.