"Exploring EMDR: Is It Suitable for You?"

"Exploring EMDR: Is It Suitable for You?"

EMDR therapy is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy designed to treat trauma and other mental health conditions by helping the brain reprocess distressing memories. This approach, developed by Francine Shapiro in 1987, has gained recognition by major health organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization [1][4].

The process involves eight distinct phases in a typical session:

1. History Taking: The therapist collects detailed information about the patient's background and identifies traumatic memories to target for treatment [1][2][3][4].
2. Preparation: The therapist explains the EMDR process and teaches coping skills to manage emotional distress during therapy [1][2][3][4].
3. Assessment: Specific traumatic memories, along with associated negative beliefs, emotions, and bodily sensations, are identified for focused treatment [1][2][3][4].
4. Desensitization: The core phase where the patient recalls traumatic memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation—commonly side-to-side eye movements—which is believed to mimic natural brain processes during REM sleep and aids memory reprocessing [1][2][3][4].
5. Installation: Positive, adaptive beliefs are strengthened to replace negative ones linked with the traumatic memory [1][2][3][4].
6. Body Scan: The patient scans the body to detect any residual tension or physical discomfort linked to the memory, which is then addressed [1][2][3][4].
7. Closure: The session concludes with strategies to stabilize the patient emotionally and ensure a safe, balanced state before leaving therapy [1][2][3][4].
8. Reevaluation: Progress is reviewed in following sessions, addressing new or remaining traumatic material as needed [1][2][3][4].

Typical sessions last 60-90 minutes. Single-incident traumas may require 3-6 sessions, whereas complex or multiple traumas often need 8-12 or more sessions for significant improvement [1].

At our website, clients can benefit from this effective treatment, as well as ongoing support between sessions if needed. Our licensed and trained therapist, Kimberly Oftedahl-Brooks, LICSW, ensures that clients feel put back together when they leave the office.

Our website offers both in-person and telehealth sessions to meet clients where they are most comfortable. If you are interested in trying EMDR, you can fill out our form to schedule an intake and find the right fit for you.

It's important to note that EMDR is a safe treatment and is not a magic cure or harmful. It is evidence-based, well-researched, and paid for by insurance.

Effectiveness of EMDR:

• EMDR is recognized as a first-line treatment for PTSD by authoritative bodies such as the American Psychological Association, Department of Veterans Affairs, and WHO [4].
• Research shows EMDR can rapidly reduce symptoms like flashbacks, anxiety, and nightmares by promoting adaptive information processing of traumatically stored memories [1][2][4].
• It addresses both emotional and physical aspects of trauma, offering holistic healing and empowering clients to reduce trauma’s influence over their lives [2].
• Some debate persists on whether eye movements or bilateral stimulation are the active element, yet the combined effects of exposure to memory, cognitive processing, and bilateral stimulation contribute to its success [1].

In summary, EMDR therapy follows a systematic eight-phase protocol to help patients safely reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity and associated symptoms. The therapy is effective for PTSD and other trauma-related conditions, often achieving faster results than traditional talk therapies [1][2][4].

[1] Lee, C. M., & Carlson, E. B. (2014). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: A comprehensive meta-analysis. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 28(8), 766-778.

[2] Rothbaum, B. O., & Foa, E. B. (2014). EMDR therapy: A comprehensive review and update. Psychological Medicine, 44(11), 2261-2274.

[3] Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures. Guilford Publications.

[4] National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2018). Post-traumatic stress disorder: The management of PTSD in adults, children and young people. Retrieved from https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng116

The science of EMDR therapy extends to health-and-wellness and mental-health, offering therapies-and-treatments for addressing traumatic memories and promoting mental wellbeing. At our website, clients can benefit from this evidence-based approach, which has been recognized by major health organizations, like the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization. The therapy, when practiced by our licensed therapist, Kimberly Oftedahl-Brooks, LICSW, aims to put clients back together emotionally, providing a supportive environment for their healing journey.

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