Reflective Practices & Supervision - EMDR Therapy

EMDR

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful, non-retraumatising psychological therapy that has been used effectively for more than 30 years in many countries and cultures to treat many different types of psychological distress.

What Happens During an EMDR Session?

During EMDR, the therapist works with their client to identify a particular problem as a focus for the therapy session. The client then calls to mind the disturbing matter or traumatic event, what was seen, felt, heard/sensed, and thought. The therapist will then begin eye movements or other bilateral stimulation, like tapping or clicking. These eye movements are used until the memory becomes less disturbing and is associated with a positive thought and belief about yourself. My clients have described EMDR as magic.

Why Does Approved EMDR Training Matter?

I am an EMDRAA approved EMDR therapist, trained by Graham Taylor (former president of EMDRAA), and a full member of EMDRAA. EMDRAA exists to ensure and maintain high standards of practice in EMDR Therapy. EMDRAA is primarily concerned with the safety and efficacy of EMDR therapy delivered to clients. EMDR is a complex therapy requiring a high level of skill and the learning of detailed knowledge and specific techniques in a systematic way. Only those training programmes that fulfil strict criteria from international guidelines are approved by EMDRAA.

Why Choose EMDR Therapy?

Disturbing events often happen in our lives that stay with us. This is because the brain cannot process information as it usually does for a number of reasons. One moment can become ‘frozen in time’ and remembering the trauma may feel just as terrible as going through it for the first time. This is because the images, sounds, smells and feelings still seem to be present – as though they haven’t changed. Such memories have an enduring negative effect that disrupts the way an individual sees the world and the way that they relate to other people.

EMDR has a positive impact on how the brain processes information. Following an EMDR session, the individual no longer relives the trauma. They still recall that an incident happened, but it no longer feels distressing. On completion of an EMDR therapy course, my clients frequently report having changed the way they see themselves, the world and others, and that they feel safe, lovable, worthy, and empowered.

What Kind of Problems can EMDR Treat?

Scientific research has established EMDR as effective for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Clinicians have also successfully used EMDR as a treatment component in the management of:

• Anxiety

• Body dysmorphic disorders

• Complicated grief

• Depression

• Dissociative disorders

• Disturbing memories

• Eating disorders

• Pain disorders

• Panic attacks

• Performance anxiety

• Personality disorders

• Phobias

• Sexual/Physical abuse

• Stress reduction

How Long Does EMDR Treatment Take?

One or more sessions are necessary for me to understand the nature of the problem and to decide whether EMDR is an appropriate treatment for you. I will discuss EMDR with you more fully and give you an opportunity to ask questions. Whilst EMDRAA recommends that a typical EMDR session lasts from 60-90 minutes, my appointments are 50 minutes in duration, unless otherwise agreed and scheduled. The type of problem, life circumstances and the number of previous traumatic experiences will determine how many treatment sessions are necessary.

What are the Advantages of EMDR over Other Treatment Approaches?

1. Treatment is symptom-focused and delivered in session

2. EMDR has comparable results to that of other trauma treatments such as exposure therapy, but is much faster and therefore, more affordable

3. Studies have demonstrated that 77-90% of clients diagnosed with PTSD were able to eliminate their symptoms after 3-7 EMDR sessions (without homework)

4. Better tolerated by clients than exposure therapy because it is far less distressing

5. Clients do not have to talk in detail about their trauma

Is EMDR Supported by Empirical Evidence?

EMDR is one of the most researched psychotherapeutic approaches for PTSD. Since its inception in 1989, more than 20 controlled clinical studies have found EMDR to effectively decrease or eliminate the symptoms of PTSD for the majority of clients, and to be more efficient than other therapeutic approaches such as CBT and exposure therapy, or medication.

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) recently recognised EMDR as a Level 1 treatment for PTSD in their published results for ‘Evidence-Based Psychological Interventions: A Literature Review’ (2010) for both young people and adults. Level 1 is the highest standard that can be applied to a specific therapeutic approach. Further research has focussed on use of EMDR for Depression and Anxiety and numerous other mental health problems with extremely positive results.

Is EMDR Endorsed by Reputable Organisations?

Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health - 2021

World Health Organisation – 2013

The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies – 2009

National Health and Medical Research Council – 2007

American Psychiatric Association – 2004

US Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense – 2004

Northern Ireland Department of Health – 2003

Dutch Guidelines of Mental Health Care – 2003

Israel National Council for Mental Health – 2002

Clinical Division of the American Psychological Association – 1998

Adapted from EMDRAA (2023). FAQ. Retrieved from https://emdraa.org/emdr-faq/

World Health Organization (WHO) Recognises EMDR as a first-choice treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder.

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy which has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a first-choice treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder.

People commonly experience traumatic events and loss. WHO previously found that of 21 countries, more than 10% of respondents reported witnessing violence (21.8%) or experiencing interpersonal violence (18.8%), accidents (17.7%), exposure to war (16.2%) or trauma to a loved one (12.5%). An estimated 3.6% of the world's population has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the previous year.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) should be considered for people suffering from PTSD. This technique helps people reduce vivid, unwanted, repeated traumatic memories.

WHO Warnings

Primary health care workers are warned against specific popular treatments. Anti-anxiety drugs such as benzodiazepines, should not be prescribed to reduce acute traumatic stress symptoms or sleep problems during the first month following a likely traumatic event.

No evidence exists for the benefits of benzodiazepines, a common anti-anxiety drug, on symptoms of traumatic stress following a recent, likely traumatic event. Benzodiazepines may slow recovery time from likely traumatic events.

Primary concerns regarding the use of benzodiazepines are that many people develop tolerance to the medication’s effects, gain little to know therapeutic benefit from chronic use, become dependent on them, and suffer a withdrawal syndrome when they cease taking them.

The WHO recommendation is that benzodiazepines should not be prescribed to adults to reduce acute traumatic stress symptoms related to serious impairment in daily functioning during the first month following a likely traumatic event.

Adapted from WHO (2013). PTSD. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news/item/06-08-2013-who-releases-guidance-on-mental-health-care-after-trauma

EMDRAA Link for EMDR Resources:

https://emdraa.org/emdr-resources/

Why do I Practise EMDR therapy?

To be completely honest, it worked for me and healed 40 years’ worth of traumatic memories in 90 minutes. I studied, and continue to research, update and develop my EMDR therapy skills because it Is an integrative psychotherapy approach:

•  developed to treat psychological disorders,

•    to alleviate suffering,

•    to help individuals to fulfill their full potential for personal growth,

•  whilst minimizing any risks of harm in its use.

•    As an EMDR therapist, I aim to achieve comprehensive, safe,             effective and efficient treatment, whilst maintaining your                   emotional and psychological stability.

Image credits for EMDR page:

1. "Butterflies Brain Set Free" image courtesy of Trusted Coach Directory

2. "EMDR-brainwave" image by NOLimitStudio via EMDR Blew My Mind. Literally. by Deborah Copaken

3. "EMDR-bilateral-stimulation" image courtesy of Trauma and Beyond Center

4. EMDRAA logo courtesy of EMDR Association of Australia

5. "EMDR-brain-changes" image by Malgorzata Tatarynowicz via The Deeper Journey