WHAT IS EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based approach to treating emotional and psychological distress caused by a painful or traumatic life event or experience. EMDR helps to reduce the level of distress and intensity associated with that experience by desensitizing and reprocessing it. It works similarly to the natural processing that occurs during REM sleep. One of the wonderful benefits of EMDR is that you don’t have to talk in detail about the specific issue, event, or experience that you want to process and heal from.
EMDR has been proven to significantly reduce symptoms of several emotional and psychological issues including grief and loss, complex trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, panic attacks, depression, phobias, and substance dependence. Additionally, it has been found to be effective both face-to-face and online.
The goal of EMDR is not only to reduce distressing symptoms, but to empower you to feel in control of your thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and behaviours, and ultimately to develop a new outlook on life. Our EMDR clinicians are passionate about helping people move beyond the pain caused by traumatic life events and supporting them in integrating new insights and perspectives into their life after treatment.
HOW DOES EMDR WORK?
We like to explain how EMDR works using the analogy of a filing system. Regular memories and experiences are like an 8x10 piece of paper being neatly organized in a folder and then filed into a filing cabinet. During recollection of a regular memory or experience, you are able to easily locate and pull up that file, recalling the important details of the event, including when it happened, how you felt, who was present, and any other relevant information. When you are finished recalling the event, you can place the file back into the filing cabinet, feeling in control of this recollection process.
Distressing or traumatic memories and experiences is like an 8x10 piece of paper getting crumpled up, making it very difficult to organize and file away. You may become stuck, trying to neatly organize the file, but are unable to because the paper has changed shaped. The details of a distressing event often feel fragmented and unclear, you may not feel in control of your emotions associated to the event, and may find that the painful memory pops up when you don’t expect it to in the form of a distressing thought, overwhelming emotion, panic attack, nightmare, or flashback.
EMDR helps to process and reorganize these distressing or traumatic experiences so that they can be integrated neatly into your filing system, much like smoothing out the piece of crumpled paper. EMDR does not erase or change your memories, but it helps to reduce the level of distress associated with an emotionally distressing event or experience. It helps smooth out the “rough edges” so that you are able to think about an event without experiencing the distressing thoughts and emotions that were once associated with it. When this process is complete, it helps you to shift to a more adaptive and helpful way of thinking about your distressing experience.
To learn more about EMDR, download this helpful brochure.
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT EMDR
emdr is like hypnosis
No. EMDR uses a series of specific eye movements and other forms of bilateral stimulation such as tapping combined with memory recollection exercises led by your therapist.
emdr erases or changes past memories
No. EMDR will not erase or change the memories associated with your distressing or traumatic experience. Instead, it will change the thoughts and emotions associated with those memories so they are less emotionally, psychologically, and physically disruptive.
EMDR can resolve all issues in one session
No. EMDR can reduce distress in a crisis situation, but as a therapy approach, it may take several sessions to overcome deep-rooted issues.
You can’t do EMDR if you have issues with vision or tracking
No. There are bilateral stimulation options available that don’t involve eye movement including tapping and hand-held buzzers. So even if you have trouble with vision, EMDR therapy may still be an effective option for you.