EMDR Therapy

What Is EMDR Therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful and evidence based treatment for trauma and a wide range of mental health disorders. Developed in 1987, EMDR is internationally recognized as an effective treatment modality for PTSD and is endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

How Does EMDR Therapy Help?

EMDR is an eight-phase trauma treatment model that assists clients in processing traumatic life experiences, related symptoms, and maladaptive coping strategies. EMDR reduces and resolves sensitivity and activation around memories, sensations, thoughts, images, and emotions related to the distressing or traumatic event. EMDR utilizes bi-lateral stimulation via eye movement, tapping, or auditory stimuli to assist the client in staying in the present-moment while simultaneously addressing the memories and sensations related to the event. Eventually, old limiting beliefs, emotions, and images are integrated and the client has access to new positive cognitions, emotions, and ways of being in the world.

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Jen Taylor Therapy — EMDR Therapy in Boulder CO
Jen Taylor Therapy — EMDR Therapy in Boulder CO

The eight-phase protocol is as follows:

  • Phase 1: History taking

    The therapist and client will gather a history of the client’s life that includes both resourcing and positive life experiences as well as the traumatic and challenging experiences. This phase will identify what is causing the client current distress and is used to outline clear treatment goals.

  • Phase 2: Preparation

    Resources are developed during the preparation phase. This is an integral part of the process, as it will allow the client to face difficult material and memories without feeling overwhelmed during the session. Establishing connection to resourcing and expanding the client's ability to regulate empowers the client to be in charge of the pace of their sessions, allows them to come back to a sense of safety as needed, and reduces the likelihood of overwhelm and dissociation.

  • Phase 3: Assessment

    In this phase, the client and therapist will identify the specific symptom, event, memory or behavior that they will be addressing in the reprocessing phase. Targets, or early memories related to the currently presenting issue, will also be identified.

  • Phase 4: Desensitization

    In the desensitization phase, bi-lateral stimuli (BLS) will be introduced. This can include eye movement, self-tapping, pulses, or tones. BLS is chosen based on client preference, and is used to facilitate present moment awareness during the processing of activation materials. A SUDS (subjective unit of disturbance rated on a scale of 0-10) will be used to assess activation levels, and processing will occur until the client reports no disturbance. This phase can take one, or several, sessions. 

  • Phase 5: Installation

    Once the client reports no more disturbance or activation as it relates to the target issue, we will move into the installation phase. This phase is used to strengthen positive cognitions (PC’s) that the client is wanting to bring into their life. For example, the old belief of “I am unworthy of love” might change to “I am worthy of love and connection” in this phase. 

  • Phase 6: Body Scan

    Here, somatic interventions are used and the body is brought explicitly into the healing process. The client checks for any lingering tension, stress, or unease in the body as it relates to the original target memory. If none is reported, we work to grow the new body experience and grow feelings of ease, relief, strength, etc.

  • Phase 7: Closure

    Closure is done after each session, regardless if the above phases have reached completion. This is an essential part of the therapeutic process and allows the client to leave the session feeling grounded and resourced. Closure helps the client contain any activating material so that they can go about their normal lives in-between sessions.

  • Phase 8: Re-Evaluation

    This is the final phase of EMDR and allows the client and therapist to revisit the material already covered to ensure it has remained neutral and deactivated. In this phase we address the past, present, and future- ensuring that the client not only has integrated the past distressing material, but they also feel confident in moving into their future with their new thoughts, beliefs, coping strategies, and ways of being in the world.

Who Else Can Use EMDR Therapy?

EMDR therapy is a highly effective treatment for trauma. However, EMDR is also effective in addressing a wide range of challenges such as:

  • Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
  • Chronic illnesses and medical disorders
  • Depression 
  • Eating disorders
  • Grief and loss
  • Performance anxiety
  • Personality disorders
  • PTSD and other trauma and stress-related disorders
  • Sexual assault
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Substance abuse and addiction
  • Violence and abuse

How Long is an EMDR session? 

A typical EMDR session is between 50-90 minutes. Some clients prefer longer sessions so as to allow more time for processing. The right session length will be determined for each client based on their needs. 

How Long is the Treatment for EMDR?

Treatment length will vary greatly for each client and is dependent upon a myriad of factors including trauma history, resourcing and regulation abilities, presenting problems, client goals, current levels of support, other diagnoses, etc.

 

Phase one (history taking) can be done in one session, or broken up over several sessions. Phase 2 (preparation) can take several sessions depending on the client's current level of resources, ability to self and co-regulate, and ability to demonstrate state change (i.e. moving from activation back to a state of regulation). This phase is integral and cannot be skipped or reduced. Not having access to resourcing can result in overwhelm, worsening of symptoms, or even re-traumatization. It is vital that the client feels they are able to “step on the brakes” if the material gets too activating. This allows for the client to have choice, feel empowered, and to be in charge of the pace of their sessions- all important in trauma healing. 

 

The desensitization, or trauma reprocessing stage, can take one or several sessions. A single incident trauma is typically (though not always), processed more quickly than a recurring trauma or childhood trauma. C-PTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) often necessitates a longer healing protocol.

 

A full EMDR treatment protocol can be as short as a few months, depending upon your history, presenting issues, and activation levels. The past, present, and future are addressed in the full protocol and to provide complete resolution. Although this form of therapy may produce faster results than other modalities, speed is not the goal of the therapy. It is important to follow the client’s pace and ability to stay present in the face of activating material. The EMDR protocol can be used in addition to other therapeutic techniques such as somatic therapy. As a somatic therapist, I include somatic principles in my EMDR work with clients.

How To Get Started

Having overwhelming past experiences can affect how you live your life. However, you can take the first steps in regaining your life and mapping out your new future. You deserve to live a life free of trauma. If you are interested in exploring this modality, please reach out and schedule a consultation. We are here to help you find the right healing path for you.

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