EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR therapy helps to process “stuck” memories and allows the body’s healing process to resume and take effect. The eye movements typically used in EMDR sessions may imitate the processing our brain does when we are in REM sleep.
EMDR has been extensively researched and proven as an effective treatment for traumatic memories and PTSD, as well as other mental health and physical health conditions.
The processing done in EMDR therapy is not the same as processing in talk therapy, in which you disclose details of a stressful or traumatic situation. The processing in EMDR is done through the movements, and disclosing the details of a situation is not necessary. Since EMDR is effective without this, if you struggle opening up or feel that retelling the story is too difficult, EMDR could be a great option for you.
Who can benefit from EMDR therapy?
How long does it take to see results from EMDR therapy?
EMDR is an 8 phase model, and the beginning stages include treatment planning, stabilization (such as working on relaxation skills), and identifying the target memory. Once the memory processing begins (stages 3 and 4) many see benefits in as little as 3 to 6 sessions. While everyone is different, EMDR therapy has been proven to offer positive results in an extremely short amount of time. What may take years to overcome with talk therapy, can take months with EMDR.
Can EMDR Therapy be done virtually?
Online EMDR has been shown to be just as effective as in-person EMDR. Telehealth EMDR offers increased accessibility to therapy services as well as increased comfort and convenience of being able to attend therapy from home. If any challenges do come up regarding the online delivery of EMDR, your therapist will work with you to overcome these.
EMDR typically uses eye movements to process stuck memories, however other forms of bilateral stimulation such as tapping have been proven effective as well, and are often used in virtual EMDR. Your therapist will work with you to decide which form of movements are best for you.
Where can I find an EMDR therapist?
Meet The Author
AUBREY GALLEY
MC, LAC
Meet The Author
Aubrey is a Clinical Counselor at Sea Glass Mental Health. She specializes in anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, ADHD, and ASD. She is trained in EMDR and has a warm, authentic, and humorous approach to therapy.
