EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, has become a well-known therapeutic tool for processing trauma and emotional distress. In this article, we’ll explore a little bit about what EMDR is, the 8 different EMDR phases, and its impact on the well-being and mental health of those that practice it.
What is EMDR?
EMDR therapy focuses on helping clients process traumatic memories in a way that can be faster and more streamlined than traditional talk therapy. Brin Bailey, MSW, LICSW, a therapist on staff at Associated Clinic of Psychology for the last nine years, describes it as a tool that helps break free from linear thinking about trauma. Bailey says, “Talk therapy is like driving from Minnesota to New York, while EMDR is like taking a helicopter there. You can get to the same destination, but EMDR can speed things up.”
The goal of EMDR is to process and reduce the emotional charge that negative memories hold. Rather than erasing or changing the memory itself, EMDR helps change the emotional reaction tied to it. For example, if a person has a memory of a traumatic event like being called stupid by a teacher, EMDR can help them process that memory without feeling the overwhelming shame it originally caused.
Learn more about ACP’s EMDR therapy offerings
The 8 Phases of EMDR
What are the 8 stages of EMDR? Read along to follow through the phases of EMDR therapy, each designed to guide you through a careful process of memory reprocessing.
- History Taking: In phase 1 of EMDR, this involves a thorough intake and assessment, where therapists consider the client’s ability to process trauma. One of the goals here is to understand if the client can hold “dual awareness,” meaning they can balance negative beliefs with positive ones (e.g., they may have a story that made them feel that they are “stupid”, but they are able to hold awareness that there are other instances in their life where they were smart and studious).
- Preparation: The preparation phase is about equipping clients with coping skills. Therapists will teach stabilization techniques, like the “container exercise,” where clients visualize placing traumatic memories in a box, to be accessed at a later time, to help manage emotions after each session.
- Assessment: In this phase, the therapist helps the client identify the negative beliefs they hold about themselves (e.g., “I am unlovable”). The client is then asked to rate how true those beliefs feel on a scale from 0 to 10, helping therapists understand the emotional charge attached to the memory.
- Desensitization: The “meat” of the EMDR phases, this phase is where bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements, tapping each of your shoulders, or sounds) takes place. Clients focus on a traumatic memory while the therapist guides them through processing. This phase helps reduce the emotional intensity of the memory by talking about the memory while performing the bilateral stimulation. Bailey says, “We want to get down to the reptilian brain. We don’t want clients to intellectualize their feelings, we want to really train their brains to not associate this memory with such intense emotions.”
- Installation: After desensitization, therapists work to strengthen positive beliefs, such as replacing “I am unlovable” with “I am worthy.” The goal is to increase the validity of positive beliefs.
- Body Scan: Clients are asked to scan their bodies to identify any lingering tension or discomfort related to the traumatic memory. This helps address any somatic responses that may still be tied to the trauma.
- Closure: Since EMDR sessions often don’t resolve everything in one go, the closure phase helps “contain” the memory until the next session. Clients visualize placing the trauma in a safe box, to be accessed later, and return to a calm, peaceful state.
- Reevaluation: Before the next session, therapists check in on any new memories or issues that may have surfaced. This phase allows for adjustments to the treatment plan if necessary.
The Impact of the Stages of EMDR
EMDR can have profound effects. By making a traumatic memory more accessible, it can free up your brain to not hold such significance to distressing events in your past. It also is a quicker path to recovery for some clients, with sessions lasting anywhere from 6 sessions to a 6-month protocol, on average.
Bailey also emphasized that while EMDR may not be suitable for everyone, it has shown significant results across the board.
Preliminary studies indicate that EMDR can effectively reduce symptoms like trauma and anxiety, stabilize mood in bipolar patients, and alleviate pain in chronic back pain sufferers. EMDR is considered a safe therapy, and its growing popularity suggests that it could become a valuable tool in treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions and comorbidities.
Challenges in EMDR Therapy
Despite its effectiveness, there are some challenges with EMDR therapy. Many clients, especially those accustomed to traditional talk therapy, may initially resist the idea of reprocessing memories. For some, it can feel uncomfortable to leave the intellectualizing space of talk therapy for the somatic, emotional work that EMDR demands.
Another roadblock occurs when clients start focusing on other aspects of their lives, such as relationships or day-to-day problems, instead of the trauma at hand. Clients can also start to intellectualize the feelings that come up, instead of processing them within the body. Bailey works with these clients to stay focused on the EMDR process to ensure they make progress.
EMDR for Self-Use?
Bailey advises against attempting formal EMDR on your own. However, prior to working with a therapist, clients can start by identifying negative core beliefs and exploring the origins of those beliefs. But the bilateral stimulation and emotional processing aspects of EMDR should be done with a trained therapist to ensure safety and support, due to the charged aspects of this work. It can be psychologically unsafe to attempt EMDR on yourself, so contact a professional therapist if you’re interested in exploring this work.
EMDR Phases- Moving on from Trauma and Unlocking Your Potential
EMDR therapy offers a transformative approach to dealing with trauma, helping individuals process past experiences and shift their emotional responses to those memories. With its structured process, the eight phases of EMDR therapy have proven to be a powerful tool for healing, offering clients the opportunity to live with greater ease, confidence, and emotional resilience.
Whether you’re dealing with a specific trauma or just want to address deeply rooted negative beliefs, EMDR could be the right choice for you.
Contact the professionals at Associated Clinic of Psychology – our specialized team of therapists offer compassionate and humanistic care to help you break unhealthy patterns and live a calm and happy life that you’re in charge of.
