In an EMDR therapy session, a trained therapist leads an individual through sets of eye movements, or other forms of rhythmic, left-right stimulation, as the individual remembers troubling experiences. It assists the brain in processing these agonizing memories by transforming the manner in which they are held. Sessions typically begin with a quick talk, then memory recall, and then the eye movement technique. Most patients feel a decrease in the intensity of feeling associated with the memory following a session. Sessions usually run about 60-90 minutes. EMDR for trauma or anxiety, or past stress. Below, we break down what to expect step by step, session length, and how people may feel after EMDR.
Key Takeaways
- EMDR therapy is a structured, evidence-based method that assists individuals in processing traumatic memories through bilateral stimulation, like eye movements.
- The therapy consists of eight phases, each building on the last to give a full course toward emotional healing and resilience.
- Sessions are customized to the individual, with therapists modifying the methods, tempo, and means of stimulation to maximize comfort and efficacy.
- Active client participation, honest feedback, and emotional openness are key to effective results during EMDR therapy.
- Though EMDR may trigger upsetting feelings or recollections, these difficulties are navigated in a safe space and are frequently offset by enduring positive changes in psychological health.
- Taking care of yourself and connecting with therapists post-sessions can foster more healing and growth.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy, shorthand for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a protocol created by Francine Shapiro, PhD, to address traumatic memories. This therapy method acknowledges that the brain encodes traumatic and non-traumatic memories differently. EMDR treatment is a structured eight-phase process, guided by a trained EMDR therapist who employs standardized procedures to assist clients in processing traumatic memories. The therapy employs eye movements or alternative forms of bilateral stimulation — like taps or tones — to assist individuals in processing trauma. EMDR is most commonly employed against post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues, and studies demonstrate it can be as effective as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) at alleviating symptoms. The therapist’s role is essential—they direct the EMDR process, maintain security, and assist clients in processing feelings at a comfortable speed.
The Core Idea
EMDR therapy employs bilateral stimulation—such as moving the eyes from side to side, tapping hands, or listening to alternating tones. This aids the brain in processing and “digesting” traumatic memories. By directing attention toward trauma, clients can come back to what occurred in a protected environment where the therapist maintains their presence.
The primary objective is to reduce the emotional intensity associated with these memories. As time passes, the memory may be there, but its ability to distress typically diminishes. As the therapy progresses, clients typically start to shift their perspective of the incident and themselves. Dysfunctional beliefs like “I’m helpless” might change to adaptive ones such as “I can handle it.” It can allow them to live more freely of fear or shame.
Sessions are structured around focusing on a single memory, usually the most harrowing, at a time. The therapist checks in frequently, ensuring patients feel grounded, and aids in reframing outdated beliefs into new, more adaptive perspectives.
Who It Helps
Candidate Profile | Trauma Type | Age Range |
Combat veterans | Combat-related | Adults |
Abuse survivors | Childhood/Adult | Children, Adults |
First responders | Work-related | Adults |
Accident victims | Single-incident | All ages |
People with complex trauma | Ongoing, hidden | Adolescents, Adults |
Complex trauma and hidden trauma sufferers can find release using EMDR treatment. This effective therapy method is utilized for first responders who experience emotional distress in their work, as well as anyone with a traumatic history. Research shows that children and adults alike thrive during early EMDR therapy, often in just a few sessions.
Why It Works
EMDR might be effective because it assists the brain in reprocessing traumatic experiences, similar to how REM sleep aids emotional healing. The eye movements or other stimulation replicate this, enabling the brain to rewire.
Traumatic memories begin to lose their vivid, distressing qualities and, with time, humans tend to assimilate these memories into their narrative in a less upsetting manner. This assists in cognitive reappraisal and improved emotional regulation.
A good therapeutic alliance is crucial. Providing this support, the therapist helps clients feel safe enough to confront difficult memories, increasing the likelihood of success. The precise science continues to be explored, but research indicates genuine alterations in the ways the brain processes traumatic experiences.
The Eight Phases of EMDR
The eight phases of EMDR treatment provide a transparent roadmap for clients and EMDR therapists. Each phase builds on the previous one, steering both parties through a methodical recovery path in typical EMDR therapy sessions. Understanding these steps can help clients feel less like passive recipients of treatment and more like active participants in their own mental health journey.
1. History Taking
In the initial phase, the EMDR therapist takes a trauma history. This is where clients discuss their emotional challenges and experiences related to mental health issues. It’s crucial in forming a personalized treatment plan. As always, candid conversation is welcome, as building trust here is paramount, setting the foundation for the EMDR treatment to come.
2. Preparation
Therapists describe the mechanics and experience of EMDR therapy sessions. They provide clients with relaxation and grounding skills, such as deep breathing or focusing on a safe place, which are crucial during the first EMDR session. It’s important to build a safe space so clients are willing to take on hard feelings and discuss their emotional responses.
3. Assessment
In the first EMDR session, clients and EMDR therapists work together to identify specific trauma memories to address. Using Subjective Units of Distress (SUDs), we gauge the emotional responses associated with these memories, ranging from zero to ten. Clients pinpoint negative cognitions tied to their trauma, such as feeling powerless, and articulate positive beliefs they wish to adopt, like being in control. This phase lays the groundwork for a personalized treatment plan aimed at transformation.
4. Desensitization
This is the core of EMDR therapy sessions. The EMDR therapist employs side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or taps, known as bilateral stimulation, as the client recalls the traumatic event. The goal is to render the memory less traumatic, facilitating emotional processing. This cycle repeats until the SUDs score decreases and the client feels calm.
5. Installation
In typical EMDR therapy sessions, clients focus on positive beliefs while engaging in bilateral stimulation. The EMDR therapist helps reinforce these new perspectives, aiming to internalize these cognitions into the client’s self-concept, enhancing long-term mental wellness.
6. Body Scan
The EMDR therapist encourages clients to focus on any tension or discomfort they may experience. Unprocessed trauma often manifests as bodily sensations, and through EMDR treatment, helping clients identify and release these emotional responses is crucial for their healing journey.
7. Closure
Sessions conclude with grounding exercises to rebalance emotional responses. If the work isn’t complete, skills learned in early EMDR therapy assist clients to leave feeling safe and held. EMDR therapists address any residual feelings to ensure clients feel grounded before departing.
8. Reevaluation
In subsequent EMDR therapy sessions, therapists and clients check progress. New flashpoints might arise, or past flashpoints may require additional rounds, ensuring a personalized treatment plan that adapts to new emotional challenges.
Your Role in the Session
Clients are active participants throughout every EMDR therapy session. The EMDR therapist guides and outlines a treatment plan, but the client’s participation, vulnerability, and input direct the treatment process and outcomes. The therapist describes what EMDR treatment entails, what to expect, and establishes trust before delving deeper into the EMDR process, forming the basis of its eight-phase strategy.
Your Readiness
A check-in on your preparedness prior to EMDR begins. Being prepared for the experience helps you extract maximum benefit from each session, as EMDR tends to unlock intense emotions connected to memories. If you’re feeling doubtful, uncertain, share that. The therapist anticipates and encourages these reservations because they assist him in designing your optimal treatment plan.
Readiness can turn on a dime. One day you’re ready and then the next day you’re not. Being upfront about where you’re at–even when it shifts–keeps the therapy safe and useful.
Your Feedback
Straight talk in session really helps. If you think it’s too fast or too unfocused, tell your therapist. Feedback enables the therapist to modify eye movement pace, fine-tune sounds or taps, or redirect attention if necessary. For instance, if a memory is too intense, the therapist can switch tactics immediately.
Therapists use your responses to steer each stage, from the SUD-scale (distress from zero to ten) to the VOC scale (how true a positive belief feels). Feedback isn’t just helpful–EMDR must be effective. Continuous, candid discussion between you and your therapist ensures the process suits you and becomes more efficient as time goes on.
Your Emotions
Be sure to observe and communicate your emotions experienced in a session. EMDR is designed to work through feelings associated with trauma, so openness to whatever arises facilitates the progress of therapy. Every feeling is legitimate here—whether it’s anger or sadness or relief or even numbness.
The therapist will lead you through these sensations, assist you in selecting mental images to labor with, and catch you as emotions wobble. Exploration occurs in a secure, trusting environment that the therapist diligently strives to maintain. Each feeling is a stage, not a regression.
How Therapists Adapt Sessions
Therapists tailor EMDR therapy sessions to each client’s needs, which is crucial since everyone’s background, symptoms, and comfort levels differ. Some clients come in with knotty trauma or experience big emotions during sessions, so EMDR therapists need to remain adaptable. In the first EMDR session, we learn about your history, relationships, and life situation, assisting in constructing a personalized treatment plan. As therapy progresses, therapists continue to adjust their interventions in response to clients’ emotional responses. They might employ additional techniques, such as grounding or self-soothing, for individuals who struggle to remain present or become easily overwhelmed. Adaptation turns each session into a collaborative effort, with clients having input into what works best for them.
Customizing Stimulation
Therapists choose the form of bilateral stimulation that suits each client during their first EMDR session. Some individuals respond better to eye movements, a key aspect of EMDR treatment, while others may prefer gentle taps or soft sounds. The EMDR therapist could begin with one approach, then adapt if it feels awkward or isn’t going well. For instance, a client who becomes anxious watching moving fingers may opt for buzzing hand-held devices or headphones that swap tones. This is not a haphazard process. The therapist checks in with the client and adjusts the stimulation to be as beneficial as possible, ultimately resulting in better outcomes.
Managing Intensity
During EMDR therapy sessions, therapists observe how clients respond to and cope with intense emotions in the moment. If a client appears upset, the right therapist might decelerate or stop for the day. Other times, they engage in grounding exercises or practice deep breaths together. These measures prevent the client from being overwhelmed during the EMDR treatment process. A therapist needs to check in and see how the client feels, modifying the approach accordingly. This keeps the session safe while maintaining the healing edge, especially for clients with dissociative symptoms, who may need additional support.
Adjusting Pace
Therapists often adjust the pace of EMDR therapy sessions based on what each client can manage, allowing for a more personalized treatment plan. Some clients may process memories quickly, while others, especially those dealing with deep trauma, may require more time and space. By chunking the work or taking breaks, the therapist empowers the client, reducing feelings of overwhelm. If a client needs to stop and apply soothing skills, the therapist encourages this, fostering a consistent, client-directed rhythm that enhances the treatment process.
Potential Risks and Rewards
EMDR therapy provides a system for assisting individuals in processing traumatic memories, particularly during the first EMDR session. This therapeutic approach can deliver potential risks and rewards that require careful consideration, allowing clients to establish clear expectations and EMDR therapists to provide optimal assistance.
- Emotional distress can surface as old memories are revisited.
- Some may experience tiredness or physical fatigue after sessions.
- Therapy can evoke flashbacks or extreme anxiety during or immediately following sessions.
- Feeling overwhelmed is common, especially in early phases.
- Structured support from therapists helps ease discomfort.
- The rewards can include improved mental clarity and resilience.
- Most experience less severe symptoms of PTSD and improved functioning.
- Coping skills often strengthen as therapy progresses.
- While the majority of my clients experience permanent, positive life changes once EMDR is complete.
Possible Challenges
Clients can get upset while talking through their history, especially during an EMDR therapy session. Stirring up old memories, and particularly painful ones, can keep you up at night. Emotional shaking is not uncommon, and some individuals may experience strong emotional responses during the session or in the hours following. This is just a piece of the puzzle, as the EMDR process works to purge old habits.
Flashbacks or increased anxiety may emerge as the brain begins to digest trauma, especially when addressing mental health issues. They could feel scarred, depressed, or angrier than they thought. That’s not a failure; it means the therapy is effectively targeting the problem at depth.
Coping strategies are essential. EMDR therapists teach grounding skills and relaxation techniques to help clients cope with hard moments. Small actions like deep breathing or naming objects in the room can soften strong emotions.
Therapists are trained to identify and treat suffering. They provide consistent encouragement and frequently check in, ensuring that no one feels isolated or stagnant during any part of the treatment process.
Lasting Benefits
Benefit | Description |
Reduced PTSD symptoms | Many experience less anxiety, fear, or nightmares over time. |
Improved mental clarity | Processing memories helps clear mental clutter and confusion. |
Better coping skills | Clients learn ways to manage stress and triggers. |
Lasting positive life changes | People often report feeling more resilient and at peace post-therapy. |
PTSD symptoms can fall, occasionally dramatically, after a couple of EMDR therapy sessions. Research supports these findings, with EMDR treatment cited as a best practice for trauma treatment. Resilience and coping skills become more robust as clients engineer new emotional responses to stress and triggers. Most experience benefits that extend long past the conclusion of their treatment process.
Beyond the Session
EMDR therapy doesn’t pause after a session. What you do post-therapy can influence how well the EMDR treatment holds up. A big part of this is self-care. Those who pause to relax, nourish, and indulge in tranquility are perhaps better equipped to manage big emotions that can arise post-session. For instance, others take a walk, listen to music, or chat with a friend. These small acts assist the mind and body in resetting after EMDR therapy sessions.
It is useful to have an “after therapy” strategy if you are an emotionally minded individual who wishes to control your feelings. This could be as straightforward as journaling, contacting a support group, or maintaining an anxiety to-do list. Often, individuals feel exhausted, emotionally vulnerable, and sometimes even liberated post EMDR treatment. A transparent strategy can navigate them through those highs and lows. Some record what worked for them or any post-therapy triggers that surfaced, which aids in monitoring development and identifying what remains to be addressed in future sessions.
Emotional processing doesn’t stop at the therapist’s door. In the days, weeks, and months following EMDR, the brain might continue creating new connections that enable someone to get beyond previous trauma. This can cause slow but genuine changes in mood or self-image. They begin to experience shifts, such as being more confident or more comfortable in their regular existence. It might require only one session to see early results; others require several sessions for the same trauma. For one-off trauma, sometimes individuals require only about three sessions to experience a shift. These transformations can manifest in the ways you manage stress, develop deeper connections, or simply feel better through the EMDR process.
Staying in touch with a mental health professional is crucial. If intense feelings or fresh inquiries arise, having someone to debrief with can make it less isolating. Regular conversation catches issues early and provides individuals with additional self-care resources. EMDR’s aim is not simply to feel better fast but to build an ongoing, long-term self-awareness and care through a personalized treatment plan.
Conclusion
EMDR therapy provides a direct route to help individuals process difficult experiences. Each step remains goal-oriented, with defined objectives and actual assistance from the therapist. You have a role in the room, not just an observer. For some people, it’s giant leaps, for others, little steps — and all of it counts. Sessions adjust to what you require, so nothing is forced or hurried. Risks and gains both count, and discussing them makes you feel secure. Between sessions, you may experience differences in everyday life or in the way you perceive old tension. To find out more or inquire, consult a licensed therapist. Knowing the process can assist you in feeling prepared for your own initial session.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is EMDR therapy used for?
EMDR therapy is primarily employed to address trauma and PTSD, making it a vital treatment option for mental health issues. It assists with emotional challenges like anxiety and depression by working through distressing memories in a protected setting.
2. How long does an EMDR session last?
An EMDR therapy session, which typically lasts 50 to 90 minutes, varies based on your needs and the EMDR therapist’s treatment planning approach.
3. Do I have to talk in detail about my trauma?
No, you don’t have to share everything during your EMDR therapy sessions. EMDR treatment centers around how you feel and think during memory recollection, not on telling the entire narrative.
4. Is EMDR therapy safe?
EMDR treatment is typically safe when administered by a qualified therapist. While some individuals might experience emotional discomfort during therapy sessions, such emotions are usually temporary.
5. How many sessions are needed for results?
The number of EMDR therapy sessions varies for everyone. Some may see results within just a few sessions, while others might need more time to make an impact that sticks.
6. Can EMDR help with anxiety or depression?
While studies demonstrate that EMDR treatment is effective for alleviating anxiety and depression symptoms, it particularly helps with trauma-related mental health issues.
7. What should I do after an EMDR session?
After your first EMDR session, it’s important to rest and take care of yourself, as many report feeling emotionally drained or weepy, so light self-care is advised.
Reignite Your Potential: Break Free With EMDR Therapy at Pivot Counseling
Do past experiences keep showing up in the present—holding you back, weighing you down, or leaving you feeling stuck? You’re not alone. At Pivot Counseling, we use EMDR therapy to help you process those memories, release their grip, and step into a brighter, more balanced future.
Picture this: the anxiety that once drained your energy begins to fade. Your confidence grows. Relationships feel lighter, more connected. You finally feel in control, not defined by what happened in the past. That’s the power of EMDR therapy.
Our team of caring, experienced professionals is here to walk with you every step of the way. Each session is designed for your unique journey, using proven, evidence-based techniques that give your mind the chance to heal and thrive.
You don’t have to carry the weight forever. Reach out today to schedule your EMDR therapy session at Pivot Counseling, and take the first step toward the freedom and peace you deserve.
Disclaimer:Â
The information on this website is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. Pivot Counseling makes no warranties about the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the information on this site. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. Licensed professionals provide services, but individual results may vary. In no event will Pivot Counseling be liable for any damages arising out of or in connection with the use of this website. By using this website, you agree to these terms. For specific concerns, please contact us directly.
