What does EMDR stand for?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. I am biased, but it is a pretty rad therapy that has taken the mental health field by storm, for going on forty years. Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro, EMDR is a unique approach to treating trauma. With the help of Francine’s ex-husband, her daughter, and countless other clinicians EMDR has developed into an entire therapeutic approach that clinicians across the globe utilize to treat a variety of conditions.
The basic idea behind EMDR is that traumatic memories can get stuck in your brain like gum to a sidewalk on a hot Summer day in Missouri. For years these memories can pop up at unwanted times and be difficult to remember at others. This causes all sorts of problems: anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, PTSD. EMDR can provide relief and in a lot of cases relatively quickly.
Let’s talk about eye movements. During an EMDR session, you'll follow your therapist's hand movements or a light on a really cool star-trek looking machine. It might seem like you're watching a really intense tennis match or playing some eye tag. This triggers the same rapid eye movements that happen during REM sleep, which helps to unlock those pesky stuck memories.
Desensitization, that’s the next part of our EMDR acronym. This occurs when you start to work through a memory. You and your awesome therapist will notice that you have a decreased emotional response to a memory that used to terrify, infuriate, or otherwise overwhelm you. You may even notice a change in something physical, like a lump in your throat, seemingly, slowly reducing in size. You will react less to the memory, it doesn’t have the same power over you anymore.
Reprocessing, the last part of our good ol’ EMDR acronym. When a traumatic memory occurs we form beliefs about ourselves and the world around us that might make a lot of sense at the time, but don’t really fit into our life later, when we’re safe. In this part of the EMDR we take a look at the memory we desensitized and learn something new about it. We develop new beliefs that make more sense for the life we’re living now. Let’s throw out an example for you. Maybe you used to believe “Everyone wants to hurt me.” You might be able to have a new thought that works better for you and sounds more like: “Most people want good things for me, and I have good judgment to protect myself from those that don’t.” These shifts make a big difference in how you see yourself and your world.
Don’t misunderstand though. EMDR isn't a magic cure-all. You'll need to put in the work and be willing to face some tough emotions head-on. If you're up for the challenge, EMDR can be a brave way to process trauma and move forward with your life.
I know what you're thinking. "How do I know if EMDR is right for me?" Well, that's a great question. EMDR isn't for everyone. If you have a history of cardiac events, severe migraines, seizures, psychosis, or are in active addiction, you should discuss EMDR with your primary care physician and EMDR clinician prior to beginning reprocessing. If you’ve experienced a recent traumatic event and life has changed significantly since then, you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or PTSD, EMDR might be right for you. Shoot us a text on our secure line: 417-708-7909 or go to emdria.org to find clinicians in your area.
So there you have it, folks. EMDR might sound like a mouthful, but it's a therapy that can change your life for the better. If you're ready to process that trauma and move forward, consider giving EMDR a try.
Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
American Psychological Association. (2017). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing
van der Kolk, B. A., Spinazzola, J., Blaustein, M. E., Hopper, J. W., Hopper, E. K., Korn, D. L., & Simpson, W. B. (2007). A randomized clinical trial of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), fluoxetine, and pill placebo in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: Treatment effects and long-term maintenance. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 68(1), 37-46.
Leeds, A. M., & Shapiro, F. (2004). The practice of EMDR. New York, NY: Springer Publishing.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2016). Post-traumatic stress disorder. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml
