EMDR - Is it for me?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and is one of the many forms of Bottom-Up* therapy I use with clients. Sometimes life experiences or traumatic events can overwhelm our ability to cope. EMDR is a therapeutic intervention to help reprocess certain emotional experiences stored within the brain and body as memories.

Memory can be pretty complex, but in simple terms, the brain and body are very intuitive. Both know exactly what to do based on the type of experience we have had. The brain and body also send us signals when we are ready to grow, although some signals can be really unpleasant. Many signals serve as messages helping us discover deeper part of ourselves.

The signals we receive can present as symptoms or triggers. Some signals may be more persistent than others, often trying to get our attention. Some examples of symptoms are: obsessive “looping” thoughts, self-criticism, restlessness, irritability, tense muscles, avoidance, poor sleep, loneliness, dissociation, and emotional dysregulation.

Triggers are also very common for us to experience and they can be either conscious or unconscious. Conscious triggers are usually in our awareness, while unconscious triggers can feel uncertain and confusing. Some examples of triggers are: unexplained reactions to someone or something; a reminder of something emotionally charged or emotionally numbing; a smell, sight, noise, or image; a person, place, or situation that we are now ready to grow through.

EMDR - How does it work?

EMDR can help process an experience in a safe, contained way. Traditionally, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (BLS) in the form of rhythmic eye movements. Another form of bilateral stimulation includes holding a gentle handheld device that vibrates rhythmically from left-to-right. These movements access both hemispheres of the brain and pass over a middle section of the brain called the corpus callosum, or “CC” for short. We want the “CC” to be accessed pretty frequently. The more the “CC” nerve fibers are strengthened, the more balanced both sides of our brain can be.

There are also different phases of EMDR and often clients aren’t too sure what to expect. Each session we can identify which form of bilateral stimulation is the best fit. Depending on client needs, I also share several right-and left-brained skills in preparation for EMDR treatment. These skills are a great complement to EMDR; they can help increase body awareness and new neural connections. EMDR can be like a detoxifying juice cleanse for the brain, while absorbing all of the nourishing nutrients. The nutrients can be a shift in perspective, less symptoms, and a healthy sense of Self.

*A Bottom-Up therapy (limbic system) approach can help clients become aware of sensations within the body—to shift thought patterns and integrate experiences.