EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an extensively researched, integrative form of psychotherapy that incorporates bilateral stimulation* to help address symptoms of trauma.
The theory behind EMDR (which is based on the Adaptive Information Processing Model) suggests that experiences have to be successfully processed in the brain in order for us to experience mental and physical wellness.
When we go through something that’s emotionally painful or disturbing, our body’s state of high arousal can cause disruptions to our brain's information processing system, meaning that certain memories will be inadequately processed. Insufficiently processed memories can become stuck in time, and anything in the present that reminds us of that experience (even if subconsciously) can trigger the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs that we had at the time of the incident itself. In other words, the past becomes present. Thus, it is only through accessing and reprocessing these painful memories that we can stop feeling triggered.
Think of EMDR as giving your brain a “software update” by finding old, unprocessed memories and updating them with new, more adaptive information so that you can feel triggered less often and live a life that’s more aligned with your current context, beliefs, and desires.
Feel free to check out this YouTube video to learn more.
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* Bilateral stimulation: stimulation of both sides of the body, which can occur via hearing a sound from one ear to the other, moving your eyes back and forth, and other methods. ​
How it works
Some theories of why and how EMDR works include the following:
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Rapid eye movements cause peoples’ parasympathetic nervous system to activate, creating a relaxation response that makes it easier to access unconscious memories for reprocessing.
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When we think of a memory in a relaxed state, the memory is in a labile form, meaning it’s more “mouldable.” The memory can then “take in” new information and become transformed, reconsolidated, and stored in a neurologically different form.
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Rapid eye movements induce a neurobiological state that is similar to REM sleep—the phase when our experiences from the day are filed away as memories in the past. When your brain understands that something was in the past, not the present, it reduces sensitivity to here-and-now triggers.
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A recent study used EEG tests to measure electrical activity in the brain during EMDR. The results showed that although patients experienced activation in the limbic parts of the brain (associated with our fight/flight response), EMDR caused higher activation in the frontal lobes (associated with rational thought). This means patients may have felt very emotional before EMDR, but experienced significant relief from negative emotions due after engaging in bilateral stimulation.
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EMDR may help to increase connectivity between different neural networks involved in memory, emotion, and cognition. This improved connectivity can help us process traumatic memories in more adaptive ways.
What does an emdr session look like?
EMDR follows an eight-phase protocol in a particular order to ensure emotional safety and clinical efficacy. The first phases involve learning more about your background and present-day symptoms. From there, we'll discuss emotion regulation techniques to ensure that you're able to tolerate and move through painful emotions that may arise during the reprocessing phase, which is when the bilateral stimulation occurs. During these sessions, you'll be asked to bring up the memory, the image associated with it, and your negative beliefs, emotions, and physical sensations. Your therapist will guide you from there.