I Have Heard About Eye Movements but What Is EMDR Therapy?
I know that EMDR uses eye movements but I don’t really know anything else about it.
Does this sound like you? If so, you are in the right place!
EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is an evidence-based model of therapy used to treat the effects of traumatic stress. EMDR is most commonly known for eye movements since that is the component that is most different about the model. However, EMDR is based on the adaptive information processing (AIP) model which is a whole approach to therapy. Reprocessing or the bilateral movements EMDR is known for is a mid phase intervention of EMDR utilized for processing traumatic memories.
The AIP model is based on the principle that all of our lived experiences store in our body and contribute to both resilience and maladaptive responses. This means that our bodies both hold a memory of what it feels like to be safe, feel loved, and feel like we belong, and also memories of disturbing experiences that stay in our body and can trigger a strong reaction even if our logical brain knows those events are over.
So what should I expect from my first EMDR therapy session?
Our first session will be very similar to any other form of therapy. It is still important to build rapport with the therapist and for the therapist to do a thorough assessment in order to determine readiness for reprocessing or if other interventions will be needed in advance to prepare your system for doing the hard work of reprocessing traumatic memories.
How do I know what memories to choose?
That is actually not your job so no need to worry! Part of the initial stages of EMDR therapy is identifying together with your therapist what is currently triggering you. Based on those triggers, your therapist is trained to be able to help you identify different aspects of what is being triggered and what the origins of those triggers could be.
How do I find an EMDR therapist?
It is really important to know that you are working with a therapist who has really learned how to use the model. The basic training includes 2 comprehensive weekends and several hours of consultation to be considered basic trained in EMDR. It is recommended that clinicians seek advanced trainings, certification, or at minimum remain in consultation with a qualified consultant. Just like any other form of trauma therapy, you have to be well versed in what can come up and how to intervene. Feel free to ask your potential therapist more questions about their training and consultation practices. You can do a local search on emdria.org for approved providers as a starting point.
We would love to hear from you if you have any questions about EMDR. Please feel free to contact us below or read more on our website and @asperatherapy on instagram.
