FAQ:
Frequently Asked Questions:
What can I expect from a typical session?
Will I be ok to go to work, school, etc?
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing Therapy. It was developed in 1987 by
psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro into a well-tested
protocol, initially for highly-effective treatment of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, it has since been very
successfully adapted to help resolve a wide number of
issues.
Dr. Shapiro's theoretical model for EMDR is based on what
she calls Adaptive Information Processing. The idea is
that current symptoms are triggered by unresolved
historical trauma which, at the time, are 'locked' in the
nervous system. All the related affects of experience and
distress can be misfiled or simply unprocessed in our
physiology, leaving us open to being triggered by stimuli
in our present life into our original traumatic state.
EMDR seems to unlock these unresolved traumatic affects,
and allows our system to process and resolve them in a way
that is no longer disturbing.
The 'reprocessing' aspect of treatment allows us to
reinterpret the old material in a new way, letting go of
what is no longer valuable about the experience, and
allowing the adaptive memory networks of the brain to find
new insights and resources.
back
to top
How does it work?
EMDR is linked to what occurs naturally during REM (rapid
eye movement) and deep delta-stage sleep, where the eye
movement stimulates cross-processing between the two
hemispheres of the brain. As we all know, when we have
disrupted sleep or nightmares, we experience much distress
and normally processed events in our life can prove much
more difficult. We can look at past trauma as a 'living
nightmare' where we never wake up.
During EMDR, the client is asked to bring up the worst
part of the traumatic memory, while the clinician
're-starts' bilateral processing in the brain through
side-to-side hand movement, audio or hand taps until the
client's distress concerning the event subsides, in
whatever way it needs to. From there, the same bilateral
stimulation is applied to help the client discover new and
adaptive ways to view their past experience and how to
postively integrate it into a new relationship with
themselves and improving their life going forward.
back
to top
Is it safe?
There is no guarantee of the outcome of any
treatment. However, your therapist will do a thorough
history, and conduct a medical/psychological screening
with you to determine if EMDR is the right treatment. In
EMDR, great emphasis is placed on client stabilization,
determining if one's life situation is suited to embarking
on treatment, and ensuring they have the tools and
resources necessary to see the process through in a safe
and effective manner.
back
to top
Is it effective?
16 randomized controlled (and 8 nonrandomized)
studies have been conducted on EMDR in the treatment of
trauma . It is recommended by the American Psychiatric
Association as an effective treatment for Acute Stress
Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The
governments of the US, France, Israel and many more
institutions worldwide recommend EMDR as a top class
treatment therapy in PTSD. For a full research list, click here.
back
to top
How long does it
take?
Your therapist will work with you to set
treatment goals and a suitable schedule, depending on
whether it is a single event/issue or comprehensive
treatment, and according to your current circumstances and
budget. Everyone processes differently, though one can
expect a minimum of three to four treatment sessions to
allow for the material to properly resolve and you and
your therapist to evaluate your progress and pre/post
treatment goals.
That said, even with treatment plans that take up to 12
weeks/sessions, we see much more rapid and profound
outcomes in EMDR treatment, compared to the weeks, months
even years that talk therapy can entail.
back
to top
What can I expect from a
typical session?
Again, treatment sessions vary significantly
according to the issue presented, the individual, and
their treatment plan. Once the treatment is underway,
typically what happens is your therapist will 'target' a
sequence of past traumatic events, current triggers and
future worries. You will key into the feelings,
sensations, negative beliefs, etc, related to the event,
do some eye movement or other bilateral stimulation, and
then talk about what happens. You can certainly expect
unanticipated affects (as described above) as the material
moves--much like getting a deep massage and feeling the
sensation of discomfort and pain shift and subside.
Afterwards, as in massage, you may experience further
processing as related 'files' of the trauma continue to
process. Sometimes a target clears in one session, and
sometimes it takes repeated visits, until the overall
treatment plan is acheived.
back
to top
Will I be ok to go
to work, school, etc?
Your therapist will cover this in your
consultation and subsequent visits, to determine the best
course of action, and if any adjustments are needed in
your life to meet your treatment goals.
back
to top
