If you’re looking for a therapy that is both effective and safe, then EMDR should be at the top of your list. EMDR is the most popular type of therapy and for a good reason. It’s designed to help people address difficult memories and traumatic experiences, and it’s proven effective and safe. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the reasons why EMDR is so effective and whether it suits you or not.
Why Is EMDR the Best Type of Therapy?
For many people, dealing with traumatic memories and stress is a part of everyday life. Thankfully, there is a therapy that is not only effective but also safe and flexible—EMDR
EMDR is often used to treat anxiety, depression, PTSD, and long-lasting pain. It can also be combined with other therapies to get better results than just one treatment type
There are two kinds of EMDR: one uses eye movements to help process memories, and the other uses hands-on techniques with different types of Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) to do the same.
Types of BLS bilateral stimulation
There are two types of BLS bilateral stimulation: tapping on the knees or butterfly tapping. The most common one is tapping on the knees. In this method, the therapist sits in front of the patient and gently taps on their knees, creating small waves or pulses that travel up the patient’s legs.
This type of BLS stimulation has been shown to help treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety and depression
How can EMDR help me with my self-negative or limiting beliefs?
My job as a therapist is to help my clients to clear any negative beliefs, and emotions, and change their unhelpful decisions made at the time of the traumatic incident. EMDR is one of the most commonly used types of therapy, and it stands out for its effectiveness in treating self-negative or limiting beliefs.
Some common examples of limiting beliefs include:
- I’m not good enough
- I don’t have enough time
- I can’t ask for what I want or need because I will be rejected
- I don’t have enough money
- I can’t be my authentic self because others will judge me
- I can’t do this
- I can’t say no to other people, or they may reject me
Limiting beliefs can create an intentionally harmful c
ycle of negativity and prevent you from living the life you truly want.
You can read more about self- negative beliefs here.
Example of how EMDR can be used.
Once upon a time when a child was about 9 years old, his parents wanted to spend time on their own. They left the child with their grandmother. The child cried and asked them not to leave…for whatever reason. The parents decided to leave him because the child would be safe, and they were looking forward to spending some time together, but the child did not know that. The child does not have enough wisdom to understand that his parents need so much time on their own.
So, what do you think the child feels?
- He might feel rejected, lonely
- His self-belief could be “I am unloved”
His decision could be to feel lonely and unloved whenever a similar situation happens.
The child grows into an adult and has a lovely family and children of his own, but every time his partner goes away for work or sport the adult regresses to his inner child and feels a similar feeling of rejection and not feeling loved.
He might feel this so real, to the point that his logical part is not even there, that he can’t see the picture clearly and genuine beliefs that ‘’They don’t love him enough’’.
Often at the end of EMDR sessions, clients see the image of the traumatic event as a part of the scene, but no longer feel in the center of it! Often the client would succeed in understanding objective forgiveness. It is important to understand that it is not a kind of sentimental forgiveness, but a rather unemotional understanding of the reason why someone harmed them or upset them.
This understanding and peace replace anger, shame, self-blame, and desire for revenge. At this stage, the person feels that the past is indeed in the past.
Is EMDR an effective treatment for specific types of trauma or stress?
Yes, EMDR is an effective treatment for specific types of trauma and stress. EMDR was originally developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the 1980s, and it has been used clinically ever since then.
The majority of studies have shown that EMDR is an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, sexual abuse, bereavement, phobias, and other chronic symptoms.
EMDR can help erase painful memories and improve the person’s life overall. To start, you’ll need to see a qualified therapist to perform EMDR. After this important first step, the rest of the treatment will be tailored specifically for you based on your goals and symptoms. So if you’re looking for an effective therapy that can help you overcome your negative thoughts and emotions, EMDR should be at the top of your list.
How long should I expect my therapist to treat me with EMDR therapy?
Most people find relief after their first few sessions and continue seeing the therapist on an ongoing basis for long-term benefits. Typically, EMDR therapy is a short-term treatment that can last anywhere from 5 to 12 sessions. However, it’s always best to consult your therapist about your treatment length based on your individual needs.
Eight Phases of EMDR Therapy Treatment
There are eight phases to EMDR therapy: initial history discovery and treatment planning, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation.
Phase 1: History and Treatment Planning
In the first phase of EMDR therapy, the therapist spends 1-2 sessions getting to know the client’s history and making a treatment plan. This phase might continue throughout therapy, especially if new issues come up.
During this phase, the therapist talks with the client about the problem that brought them to therapy and the behaviors or symptoms that come from that problem. With this information, the therapist creates a plan that focuses on three main things:
- The event(s) from the past that caused the problem.
- The current situations that cause distress.
- The key skills or behaviors the client needs to learn for their future well-being.
One unique thing about EMDR is that the client doesn’t have to talk about their disturbing memories in detail. Some people like to give specifics, while others prefer to share just a general idea. For example, if the therapist asks, “What event made you feel worthless and useless?” the person might simply say, “It was something my brother did to me.” That’s all the information the therapist needs to use EMDR to target the event.
Phase 2: Preparation
In this phase, most people will need between 1-2 sessions, but some might need more time if they have a lot of trauma or certain diagnoses.
The therapist will teach you specific techniques to help you quickly manage any emotional distress that comes up. If you can do this, you’ll be ready to move on to the next phase.
One of the main goals during this phase is to build trust between you and your therapist. Even though you don’t have to talk in detail about your upsetting memories, it’s important to be honest about how you feel. If you don’t trust your therapist or if you say you feel better when you don’t, the therapy won’t be able to help you.
During this phase, the therapist will explain how EMDR works, what happens during the sessions, and what you can expect afterward. They will also teach you different relaxation techniques to help you stay calm if you feel upset during or after a session.
Think of your therapist as a guide who’s there to help you with any hurt, needs, or disappointments so you can reach your goals together. EMDR is more than just eye movements; the therapist needs to know when to use different techniques to keep things moving forward. Learning these tools is important because everyone needs ways to relax and manage life’s stress.
Phase 3: Assessment
In this phase, the client starts working on specific memories or “targets” identified earlier. The goal is to process these memories, but this doesn’t mean talking about them in detail. Processing is done in a controlled way.
Here’s how it works:
- Choose a Memory Image: The client picks a mental picture from the memory that best represents the event.
- Identify a Negative Belief: The client thinks about a negative belief connected to that memory, like “I am helpless,” “I am worthless,” or “I am unlovable.” Even if they know it’s not true, it’s important to focus on how it feels.
- Choose a Positive Belief: The client then picks a positive belief they want to feel instead, like “I am worthwhile,” “I am safe now,” or “I can succeed.”
- Work towards a positive belief
For a single trauma, reprocessing usually takes about two sessions.
Phase 4: Desensitization
This phase helps the client process and resolve similar events linked to the memory, allowing them to heal more deeply and often beyond what they initially expected. The therapist works with the client until the memory no longer causes distress, and any related memories are also resolved.
Phase 5: Installation
In this phase, the goal is to make the positive belief stronger so it can replace the old negative belief. For example, a client might start with a memory of being beaten up by their father and the negative belief, “I am powerless.” After working through the memory in the Desensitization Phase, the client realizes that as an adult, they now have strength and choices that they didn’t have as a child.
In this phase, the positive belief, like “I am now in control,” is made stronger and “installed” in the client’s mind.
Phase 6: Body Scan
After making the positive belief stronger, the therapist will ask the client to think about the original memory again and check if they feel any tension or discomfort in their body. If they do, the therapist will help process these physical sensations to make them go away.
Studies show that unresolved trauma can cause physical reactions in the body.
When someone is affected by trauma, the negative feelings and physical sensations from that event can be stored in the body. When these memories are processed, the sensations and feelings can disappear. A session is only considered successful if the client can think about the original memory without feeling any body tension. The positive beliefs must be deeply felt, not just understood.
Phase 7: Closure
This phase wraps up each therapy session and makes sure the client leaves feeling better than when they started.
Phase 8: Reevaluation
This phase starts with each new session. It helps the therapist review the treatment plan and see how well the therapy is working.
Even though clients might start feeling better right away with EMDR, it’s important to go through all eight phases of the therapy, just like finishing a full course of antibiotics is crucial for complete recovery. This phase ensures the therapy is successful over time and that all issues are properly addressed.
Conclusion
Key Concepts of EMDR Therapy
1) Moves information from dysfunctional to functional parts of the brain
2) Clears negative emotions
3) Helps to come to an objective understanding and forgiveness
4) Creates a sense of truth
5) Clears emotional, cognitive, and mental blockages and fears.
6) Highly effective in treating anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
To know more about how I use EMDR skills click here
To learn more about EMDR click here
Now that you know a little more about EMDR therapy, hopefully, it will be your best treatment option. If you still have difficulty finding relief from trauma-related symptoms, please don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Contact a therapist specializing in EMDR therapy and let them guide you on how to get the most out of this amazing therapy.
Click this link to watch a demonstration on the power of EMDR