EMDR

I first became interested in EMDR when I was reading Bessel van der Kolk’s book “The Body Keeps the Score”.  I was working with people with long term pain at the time and I had noticed how linked pain and traumatic past experiences were.  I really wanted to develop my skills for working with trauma.  The power of EMDR really shone out in van der Kolk’s book.  Soon after, I met a client who had suffered a horrific trauma but told me, their voice steady and without emotion, “oh yeah but I had EMDR for that and it feels okay now, I know it is in my past”.  I was so impressed by this, I wanted to learn more.

I committed to learning EMDR, booked myself onto a training course, and the journey began.  Our EMDR trainer explained how the founder of EMDR, Francine Shapiro had discovered EMDR when she was walking along thinking about some upsetting thoughts and feelings.  She noticed the power of the negative thoughts started to recede and realised that her eyes were moving back and forth at the time.  This grabbed her interest and she started to look further into bilateral movements.  She found similar results – painful memories, negative beliefs, bodily sensations  and emotions would reduce with bilateral movements.

How does EMDR work?

I have often been overwhelmed by the power of EMDR.  One client told me it felt like their brain had become ‘bored’ of thinking about their trauma.  At the same time, they felt safer out of the house and were no longer jumpy or anxious.  People start to naturally try doing things again, things they had been avoiding for years due to fear.  Sometimes I see people visibility relax and people really connect with “I am safe now, that is firmly in my past”.

The theory behind EMDR is that when we experience a highly stressful event there may be disruptions to how that memory is processed and it may be stored in a way that is ‘maladaptive’.  This means it might feel very emotional when we come to recall it. Often the memories are so distressing that I people avoid thinking about them, let alone a talking about them.  Consequently, the memories remain unprocessed.  And that could mean that situations in the present unconsciously link to the past and trigger a similar reaction in the present.  It is not just images; memories are also smells, sounds, tastes, negative beliefs, sensations and emotions.  If memories are stored ‘maladaptively’, then these can affect how we react to situations and how we view ourselves and others.   

The idea is that the bilateral movements in EMDR simulate the process that happens during REM sleep. In REM sleep our eyes dart back and forth and it is thought we are processing our day’s events and information.

Using the bilateral stimulation, reprocessing takes place whilst paying attention to the past memory, at the same time remaining firmly in the present moment.

When the processing is successful the previously upsetting and stressful memories no longer have negative emotions associated with them and any other experiences linked to them including beliefs and bodily sensations are more adaptively stored.  Essentially, the brain has healed the past to allow us to generate new responses in the direction of growth and resilience.  

Does EMDR only work for PTSD?

Often when we think of EMDR and trauma, we think of car accidents, natural disasters or abuse.  Whilst EMDR helps all of these events, the traumas worked on in EMDR can be upsetting life experiences, or ‘small t’ traumas.  This could be being criticised by a teacher, humiliated by a parent or the moment an unwanted diagnosis is delivered.

EMDR is helpful for a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, low self esteem, panic, headaches and chronic / persistent pain.

Does EMDR really work?

The evidence for EMDR is strong, it is recommended by the World Health Organisation and used to treat a whole range of mental health problems.  It is a powerful psychotherapy that be quickly effective at easing distress.

What is it like to have EMDR?

When I did my EMDR training we were asked to think of an experience from earlier in our lives that causes some distress when we recall it.  Of course, in this setting nobody chose anything very traumatic. I thought about failing a maths test when I was age 9.  I was able to visualise the classroom, I could see the desk and the large windows, and I linked back to the shame and negative self evaluation I felt at the time.  My training partner guided me through the reprocessing and I started to notice the memory turn black-and-white, I started to feel less able to hold onto it. EMDR will never delete memories but it was almost like this was being put into my long-term memory, where it belonged.

EMDR will always start with an assessment so your therapist understands you and what could come up during the processing.  As part of this you will agree goals and discuss a treatment plan.  You will learn skills for soothing and managing any stress that occurs when accessing past stressful events.  This is important as you will be asked to hold traumatic past experiences in mind.  But the skills and strategies are there to help you and your therapist will work to ensure the work remains tolerable for you.  Next is the reprocessing part, where we rely on the brain’s natural processing to heal. After the memory is processed we link it to more adaptive emotions and positive beliefs.

In EMDR you do not have to describe a trauma out loud if you do not want to and unlike CBT, there is no homework!  The magic of EMDR is in the process. From that perspective, it is not like a traditional talking therapy.  When doing the processing the client is focused on internal material.  The therapist may remain quiet (though they will have a close eye on what is happening for the client and encourage or reassure as appropriate).  We are relying on the brain’s natural processing systems to heal, and letting EMDR do its work.

If you are interested in EMDR, Dr Sarah Woods, Clinical Psychologist offers this in her clinic in Morpeth, Northumberland or online.  Please call 07870 241970, email hello@nepsychology-co-uk.stackstaging.com or contact us.

hello@nepsychology-co-uk.stackstaging.com

07870 241970

Watson House

23 Oldgate

Morpeth

Northumberland

NE61 1QF