EMDR 101

By now you may have heard of a therapy technique called EMDR.  EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. The title sounds complex, but the explanation isn’t: simply put, basic eye movement can stimulate the brain and body to finish healing itself from traumatic memory. Discovered and honed in the late 80s by psychologist Francine Shapiro, the technique has been empirically tested, endorsed by the Department of Veteran Affairs, and even touted by a few celebrities who’ve been vocal about mental health. In this blog I’ll break down what each letter means and give a simple explanation of how each facet works.

When a highly disturbing event occurs, it’s not necessarily the event itself that harms us-- it’s how the event is stored in our bodies that can cause harm. Leading trauma expert Dr. Peter Levine provides a helpful picture of how traumatic energy is discharged in the animal world. Imagine a nature documentary you may have watched; it’s a typical scene of an African plain. A herd of antelope is grazing peacefully in a field, but we can see there’s a tiger lurking in the bush nearby. As the tiger edges closer, an antelope raises it heads, sniffs the air, then bolts--running for its life. The tiger is close on its tail, but somehow the antelope manages to outrun the tiger and escapes into the brush. Once it’s in the clear, you notice the antelope is right back to grazing in the field, but you’ll also see its body is shivering and shaking with energy. This is significant. It is in this way that the animal discharges the trauma it has just experienced by literally allowing that “panic energy” to seep back out of its body. That’s why you won’t find the antelope hiding in the bushes for the rest of its life in fear of the next potential lion lurking in the shadows—it has rid itself of the traumatic memory. It is now free to enjoy grazing in the field (until the next lion comes along.)

Unlike animals, our brains are more highly developed. Although our panic response is similar to the antelope, our “animal” brain then sends the information forward to our “smart” brain, the part that processes the event combining logic and emotion. If that information gets stuck and never makes it to the processing area, as often happens in trauma, it turns into energy trapped in the body. Our brains aren’t the only part of our anatomy that remembers—our bodies remember too. Our spinal cord, fatty tissue, and various nerves can all hold traumatic memory.

This can make us fearful of any small reminder of the event—even if we know that logically, it is very unlikely we’re in harm’s way. This is why for example the assault victim may tell himself to stop being ridiculous, it happened years ago. Yet, when he walks past a dark alley way, his heart races, his throat feels tight, and he breaks out in a sweat. Any number of physical reactions or irrational fears may occur when we no longer feel safe in our bodies.

Let’s talk about eye movement—The “EM” of EMDR. Folks often mention REM sleep because it’s the best kind. Studies suggest that those who sleep deeply and achieve REM sleep are less anxious and depressed. This is because the back-and-forth eye movement that accompanies REM connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain, engaging both logic and emotion. Why does this matter? It allows our brains to sort through events and place them appropriately in a rational timeline versus fragments of memory becoming stuck. Sometimes, we need help to bring that information forward to finish the job and discharge that traumatic energy. Perhaps you’ve watched an assault case on television that gains national attention. A few of the arguments often used to refute allegations of assault or abuse are “The victim gave inconsistent statements”, or “She couldn’t provide certain details to support her story”. This is the nature of trauma, and responses like this support what we know to be true; these answers should support the story, not undermine it. 

Often, I find that people avoid reprocessing disturbing memories because they’re so afraid they’ll get stuck there. The truth is they’re already stuck! EMDR helps one pass through the trauma to the other side. Although intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and irrational negative beliefs are unwanted residue, the good news is they are all evidence of the body attempting to heal itself--it wants a do-over!  Just as the body sends white blood cells to heal an infected area, the psyche sends memories in an attempt to make us less sensitive or fearful of that memory. This brings us to the “DR”. EMDR helps desensitize us to the trauma memory while reprocessing the information in a safe space. Once the brain has that chance to appropriately process the traumatic memory, most people find the sting of the event is reduced or eliminated, and irrational negative beliefs shift toward positive, more hopeful ones.

Now that you better understand how EMDR works, stay tuned for my next blog about my journey with EMDR. I’ll talk more personally about why I knew I needed something more than talk therapy for certain clients and who the ideal candidate may be. I’ll break down how it works and what you will and won’t have to do if you choose to use it for yourself. Most importantly, I’ll give some examples of the remarkable results my clients have experienced. EMDR is not a cure-all or a magic wand, but it is a very effective tool that facilitates another layer of healing.

The mental health therapists at our office offer counseling for a variety of issues including trauma using EMDR, depression, anxiety, grief, and couples counseling. We work with teens, adults, and couples. We also offer online counseling services which can be great for people with busy schedules or for people who live in parts of Pennsylvania with limited counseling options. You can check out our website to see the full list of counseling services that we offer. Or, Request An Appointment here.