EMDR Therapy

EMDR was primarily developed to help treat trauma and PTSD, and much of the official recognition of EMDR’s effectiveness is for the treatment of PTSD. EMDR is widely recognized as an effective PTSD treatment and trauma treatment, supported by numerous clinical guidelines and research studies. Studies have found that:

• 90% of PTSD (not including complex PTSD, or C-PTSD) patients no longer have PTSD after three 90-minute EMDR sessions.
• 100% of PTSD (not including C-PTSD) and 77% of C-PTSD patients no longer have PTSD after six 90-minute sessions.
• 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD after 12 sessions.

One study found that 100% of single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple-trauma victims no longer had PTSD after six sessions of EMDR therapy. Clinical studies have reported positive outcomes for individuals receiving EMDR, including rapid symptom reduction and improved well-being. In addition to trauma and PTSD, EMDR has been used to treat mental health conditions such as:

• Anxiety disorders, including general anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias
• Depression
• Complex trauma and C-PTSD
• Dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder (DID) and depersonalization/derealization disorder
• Phobias
• Grief and loss
• Performance anxiety
• Substance use disorders and behavioral addictions
• Self-esteem and self-image issues

EMDR has also shown benefits for chronic pain and other distressing life experiences, making it a versatile option for a range of psychological and physical conditions. EMDR can support both patients and family members during treatment. It can also be used alongside other therapies as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to enhance trauma resolution and overall recovery. Experiential contributors to clinical manifestations must be assessed by clinicians.

How Does EMDR Work?

EMDR therapy works by accelerating the brain’s natural emotional healing process, which might take much longer or never finish otherwise. According to the Adaptive Information Processing model, memories stored during a disturbing event are not well networked, leading to dysfunctional memory storage, which EMDR helps to reorganize. In the rapid eye movement portion of EMDR, the patient focuses on a targeted memory, which may be a trauma memory or one of several trauma memories, and identifies negative beliefs and negative emotions they hold about themselves related to that memory. The patient then identifies a positive belief they would like to hold about themselves instead. The patient then goes over the memory with the therapist while the therapist creates a stimulus for bilateral (side-to-side) eye movement. Typically, the therapist will have the patient watch their finger or some other object as it moves side to side. This bilateral stimulation allows the patient to process the memory using both sides of the brain. During this process, patients may notice physical sensations and body sensations associated with the memory. Eventually, the positive belief replaces the negative one. It is thought that bilateral stimulation bypasses the part of the brain that has become stuck due to trauma, allowing the left side of the brain to soothe the right side. “On a biological level, the rapid left-right eye movements in EMDR seem to stimulate an innate information processing system in the brain that has become ‘locked’ by trauma,” says Puffenberger. “The bilateral aspect allows traumatized memory networks to reconnect and flow adaptively again.” On a psychological level, EMDR seems to activate the same rapid eye movement (REM)-like mechanisms we naturally use in processing dreams. This allows the brain to integrate traumatic memories so they no longer hijack the person’s psyche and behaviors. It facilitates neuroplastic change through new associative links. According to the Adaptive Information Processing model, effective processing of memories can transform them into sources of strength and resilience. In summary, EMDR directly accesses the brain’s regenerative capabilities in a way that efficiently resolves trauma at its root neurological and psychological levels. EMDR helps reduce subjective distress and the emotional impact of upsetting memories and disturbing events. By addressing subjective distress and helping to transform negative beliefs, EMDR therapy supports emotional relief and cognitive restructuring.

The Role of Eye Movement in EMDR

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy stands out among trauma treatments for its unique use of eye movement and other forms of bilateral stimulation. At the heart of EMDR therapy is the process of having individuals recall traumatic memories while simultaneously experiencing guided side-to-side eye movements. This technique, known as movement desensitization and reprocessing, is a core component in helping people recover from post traumatic stress disorder and other trauma-related conditions. During a typical EMDR session, the therapist will ask the patient to focus on a specific traumatic memory while following the therapist’s finger or another object as it moves back and forth across their field of vision. This bilateral stimulation can also be achieved through alternating sounds or taps, but eye movement is the most widely used and researched method. The rhythmic, left-to-right motion is believed to mimic the natural processes the brain uses during REM sleep, a time when emotional memories are often processed and integrated. The significance of eye movement in EMDR therapy lies in its ability to help the brain reprocess distressing life experiences that have become “stuck” or unprocessed. By engaging both hemispheres of the brain, bilateral stimulation appears to reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories, allowing individuals to recall painful events without being overwhelmed by traumatic stress. This process, known as desensitization and reprocessing EMDR, helps transform the way traumatic experiences are stored in the brain, making them less distressing and more manageable. Research in the field of traumatic stress and clinical psychiatry has shown that this approach can lead to rapid and lasting reductions in PTSD symptoms. The use of eye movement in EMDR has been recognized by organizations such as the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association as an effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder. By facilitating the brain’s natural healing process, EMDR therapy empowers individuals to move beyond the grip of traumatic memories and regain control over their mental health. The role of eye movement in EMDR is central to its success as a trauma-focused therapy. Through the use of bilateral stimulation, EMDR enables the brain to process and heal from traumatic experiences, offering hope and relief to those struggling with the aftermath of disturbing events.

The EMDR Therapy Process