Understanding EMDR in Counselling: A Journey Toward Healing
Understanding EMDR in Counselling: A Journey Toward Healing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a transformative approach to therapy, one that I’ve found especially impactful in helping clients process and heal from trauma and other mental health concerns. In my counselling practice, EMDR opens doors to healing that traditional talk therapy alone sometimes can't fully unlock.
What is EMDR?
EMDR, developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, was initially created to support trauma recovery. Today, its applications go far beyond, addressing a wide range of challenges like anxiety, depression, phobias, and even chronic pain. The fundamental idea is that trauma or distressing memories can sometimes “stick” in the mind, which leaves people feeling trapped in the past, continually affected by emotional distress, flashbacks, or symptoms that weigh on daily life. EMDR offers a path to process these memories in a new way, reducing their emotional impact and allowing clients to move forward.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR therapy unfolds in eight phases, each guiding the client through a different part of the healing process. These phases ensure that clients feel secure, that the memories are addressed effectively, and that they leave therapy with a renewed sense of resilience and emotional stability.
History-Taking and Treatment Planning: This phase involves gathering information about the client’s life, identifying which memories to target, and setting a treatment plan.
Preparation: Building trust is vital. During this phase, I walk clients through what they can expect, introduce grounding techniques, and set up coping strategies to manage any distress that could surface.
Assessment: We pinpoint specific aspects of a memory—images, thoughts, physical sensations—that still trigger distress. Clients rate the intensity of these feelings to help us track progress.
Desensitization: The core of EMDR, this phase uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones) while the client recalls the memory. The dual focus encourages the brain to reprocess the memory with less distress.
Installation: Here, we work to instill positive beliefs around the memory. For instance, if a client felt powerless during a traumatic event, we might work on strengthening a belief that they are resilient and capable.
Body Scan: We pay attention to any lingering physical reactions in the body. This phase helps ensure that the distress is truly resolved.
Closure: At the end of each session, I make sure the client feels grounded and emotionally stable, often through relaxation or calming techniques.
Reevaluation: Before each new session, we check in on progress and explore if any other areas need attention.
Why is EMDR Effective?
What makes EMDR so effective is its structured yet flexible approach to memory processing. Several factors contribute to its impact:
Targeted Processing: EMDR helps address the most distressing parts of memories directly, enabling clients to reframe them in a way that reduces their hold over the present.
Bilateral Stimulation: Bilateral stimulation, often likened to the brain’s natural processing during REM sleep, allows the mind to integrate difficult memories more comfortably.
Holistic Approach: By addressing emotional, cognitive, and physical aspects, EMDR helps clients work through trauma at multiple levels.
Rapid Results: Many clients notice significant relief within a few sessions. While traditional therapy can take months or years to make headway, EMDR often delivers results more quickly.
Adaptability: EMDR is adaptable, meaning it’s effective for various types of trauma and distress, including cases where clients find it hard to put their feelings into words.
EMDR in My Practice
In my practice, I often meet clients who feel “stuck” in their journey. They may have tried other forms of therapy but haven’t yet found the relief they hoped for. With EMDR, we’re able to approach these challenges differently, offering new insights and a fresh perspective on their experiences. For clients wrestling with anxiety, stress, or trauma, EMDR allows them to finally release the emotional hold that past memories have on them, which opens up a path toward a more present and fulfilling life.
A Unique Pathway to Healing
EMDR brings something deeply effective and unique to the table, targeting the root causes of distress and aligning with the brain’s own healing processes. This transformative approach helps clients find relief, resilience, and the tools they need to face life more confidently. While it may not be suitable for every person or situation, EMDR remains an invaluable option for those seeking meaningful change and a way to reclaim their lives from the weight of past experiences.
References
Leeds, A. M. (2016). A Guide to the Standard EMDR Therapy Protocols for Clinicians, Supervisors, and Consultants. Springer Publishing Company.
Parnell, L. (2013). Attachment-Focused EMDR: Healing Relational Trauma. W.W. Norton & Company.
Shapiro, F. (1989). Eye movement desensitization: A new treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 20(3), 211–217.
Shapiro, F. (2001). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures. Guilford Press.
Shapiro, F. (2018). EMDR Therapy and Adjunct Approaches with Children: Complex Trauma, Attachment, and Dissociation. American Psychological Association.
van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.