If you have experienced trauma and aren’t achieving the desired outcomes with your current treatment, you might consider exploring Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, known as EMDR.
EMDR is a therapeutic method that tackles mental-health challenges arising from traumatic memories. I had only heard about the therapy, but after a recent “Tactical Fitness Report” podcast with retired police chief Capt. Dan Willis, author of “Bulletproof Spirit: The First Responder’s Essential Resource for Protecting and Healing Mind and Heart”, we discussed how helpful EMDR therapy has been for him and others.
“EMDR is quite useful for single-event trauma that helps unwrap tied emotions to the event,” Willis said. “I noticed a difference in three sessions, and after six sessions, I felt like a different person; I felt like a weight had been removed from my chest. … I do EMDR sessions now like I do dental and medical checkup visits, one to two times a year.”
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How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR is an eight-phase approach aimed at assisting individuals in processing and overcoming distressing memories and experiences:
- History and treatment planning
- Preparation
- Assessment
- Desensitization
- Installation
- Body scan
- Closure
- Reevaluation
Depending on the severity of the trauma, EMDR can be an ongoing treatment for some, with weekly sessions for many months and years.
EMDR consists of specific eye movements designed to process traumatic memories. Its goal is to help you recover from a particular trauma or other distressing life events. These eye movements promote trauma processing by activating both sides of the brain. This activation is believed to assist the brain in reprocessing and integrating traumatic memories into the overall memory network, which may relieve their emotional intensity.
While effective for many, it may not be right for you, depending on your traumatic experiences and state of mental health. While studies indicate its effectiveness for post-traumatic stress (PTS), anxiety and depressive disorders, some research involves relatively small sample sizes. There is an ongoing debate regarding the mechanisms behind EMDR’s effectiveness. Psychologist Francine Shapiro, the therapy’s founder, formulated a theory on how the brain processes memories after she discovered the eye movement technique that serves as its foundation.
The debate does not question the efficacy of EMDR itself, just that it may not be right for chronic traumas and people with severe mental-health issues.
EMDR is acknowledged by medical and mental-health organizations for its efficacy in treating PTS. Organizations, including the departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, endorse it as a best practice; the World Health Organization (WHO) provides official approval for EMDR; and both the American Psychiatric Association and American Psychological Association recognize it as an effective treatment for trauma.
Some individuals are not suited for this type of therapy. EMDR requires that individuals be able to tolerate a certain level of anxiety and stress and process emotions tied to a specific memory. Those who cannot focus on a single traumatic event may find EMDR too complicated or overwhelming. Also, according to Alpha Mind Counseling Centers, those experiencing hallucinations and delusions are not good candidates for EMDR.
“EMDR therapy is a relatively new — but very effective — method of helping people with traumatic memories,” the Cleveland Clinic said on its website. “It’s also an option for people of all ages, including children. Though this treatment is best known for its use in treating PTS, ongoing research shows it can treat many other conditions. Though it can’t treat all mental health conditions, this therapy method can make a big difference for people struggling with painful events in their past.
Veterans can find an EMDR therapist via Veterans Affairs (VA) by visiting their local VA medical center or clinic. Numerous VA facilities have trained mental-health professionals who offer EMDR therapy for PTSD and other trauma-related issues. The EMDR International Association also provides a directory of certified therapists.
If you are a civilian and have never served, you can easily find EMDR certified therapists near you by using Google. However, Psychology Today has a therapist locator on its website that can narrow your search to your ZIP code.
Check out the Military.com Fitness Section for many more stress-fighting tips and workouts designed to help you recover better from all types of stress. Many articles help with sleep improvement, food choices, and exercise options to avoid over-stress and over-training symptoms.
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