What Is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a comprehensive psychotherapy treatment that has nearly 50 years of evidence proving its effectiveness. EMDR is actually not something entirely new; it is something we are both mimicking and modifying from nature.
During sleep, we experience cycles, one of which is called the Rapid Eye Movement cycle, or REM sleep. When REM sleep is working as it should, our brains are processing the day and accessing the Adaptive Information Processing system, which allows us to wake up with new and adaptive thoughts, feelings, emotions, and behaviors in response to our day-to-day challenges .
At its core, EMDR is REM sleep in the awake state. Just like during REM sleep, you'll be accessing the Adaptive Information Processing system in your brain and experiencing the healing benefits! However, unlike REM sleep, you are in charge of the content, the pace, and the amount of time you spend working on what is stuck and bothering you. The basic power of EMDR therapy is that it is an intrinsic process within our brains, meaning that if you're willing to do the hard work of engaging in the therapeutic process, the only requirement for this treatment to be effective is that you are a human being.
Minneapolis
What will a reprocessing session be like?
When we are ready to reprocess, we will have identified something from your present or past (or both) that is bothering you and causing distress. We will then activate the experience by asking a series of questions that are meant to bring the whole experience into focus. This is done in such a way as to allow you to connect to the experience in the past AND be present in the therapy hour. This is something called "dual attention".
Then we will begin applying bilateral stimulation, usually in the form of eye movements from the left to right, but sometimes with tapping or tones. We will be quiet during this period of time to allow your brain to do its work. This will last anywhere from 20 seconds to 60 seconds, depending on what will help you heal best. Then, you will stop, take a breath, and tell me what you are noticing. I can assure you, there is no wrong answer to that question! I will support you if you get stuck or overwhelmed --this support is a critical component of EMDR treatment.
Along the way, you will notice that the intensity of the image is decreasing, and you are feeling less emotional charge. You will notice you have new words to describe the experience and have a deeper understanding of what you lived through. Ultimately, you will notice that an adaptive conclusion about yourself feels true! Although you won't be forgetting what happened to you, you will feel a deep sense of relief knowing that the experience is truly in the past and that the future can be new!
For additional details, research and testimonials, consider browsing at www.emdria.org!