EMDR is a form of therapy that stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR therapy is proving to be a very effective way to help treat those who suffer from the effects of PTSD.
This is because EMDR therapy is a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories.
The whole goal of EMDR therapy is to facilitate the accessing and processing of traumatic memories in an effort to relieve distress, reframe negative beliefs, and reduce physiological arousal.
EMDR therapy takes place in the presence of a licensed professional counselor or psychologist in an eight-step process where the individual is asked to recall the traumatic memories or images while the therapist creates a sensory input, like side-to-side eye movements or hand tapping.
Each session is about 90 minutes long with the intent of helping you process your trauma as a way to lead to wholeness and healing.
Let’s take a look at the eight phases of EMDR therapy below.
The Eight Phases of EMDR Therapy
The eight stages of EMDR therapy include:
- History and treatment planning
- Preparation
- Assessment
- Desensitization
- Installation
- Body Scan
- Closure
- Reevaluation
Let’s unpack each phase of EMDR therapy individually to get a better picture of what this type of therapy includes.
Phase 1: History & Treatment Planning
The first phase is all about taking an inventory of the client’s readiness for treatment by going over trauma triggers, intrusive memories, and really just unpacking the traumatic event so the therapist can get a bigger picture of what happened.
From there, the therapist will then create a treatment plan.
Phase 2: Preparation
The second stage is about building trust between the client and the therapist. The therapist will teach the client different ways to healthily manage emotional stress through imagery or other stress-reduction techniques.
Phases 3-6: Assessment, Desensitization, Installation, & Body Scan
During phases 3-6, the trauma is identified and processed using EMDR therapy techniques. This includes the client identifying the following:
- A vivid visual image related to the traumatic memory
- A negative belief about themselves
- Emotions and body sensations related to the trauma
The therapist will also ask the client to hold onto a positive belief about themselves to help keep them grounded throughout the sessions.
As the client focuses on the image, negative thoughts, and body sensations, they will begin to simultaneously engage in EMDR stimulations such as eye movements, taps, or different tones.
After each set of stimulation, the therapist then encourages the client let their mind go blank and to notice whatever thought, feeling, image, memory, or sensation comes to mind. This process is repeated numerously throughout the session, with attention drawn to that one positive belief.
The goal is that the more the trauma is named and acknowledged, alongside the bilateral stimulation, that healing can transpire.
Phase 7: Closure
Once in phase 7, the therapist will ask the client to keep a diary or log throughout the week to document any triggers that may arise. This is where the client will put into practice the calming or stress reducing techniques that were learned in phase 2 as they intentionally reflect on their day-to-day living.
Phase 8: Reevaluation
The final phase of EMDR therapy consists of examining the progress the client has made thus far. If there are other areas of trauma that need attention, the therapist will then decide to start the process over again and tailor it to this new trauma.
The goal at the end of EMDR therapy is that clients will learn how to process what happened to them, reframe negative beliefs, relieve distress and trauma responses, and experience physiological reconciliation.
