EMDR therapy is a National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guidance recommended psychotherapy treatment typically offered to people who have experienced trauma (which may be single events or they may have experienced multiple traumatic events throughout life). This includes where people have symptoms and experiences of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (cPTSD).
EMDR can also be utilised and has been evidenced as effective in treating a range of other mental health difficulties, including anxiety-based problems such as: anxiety, panic, phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), sleep problems; but also complicated grief, and self-esteem and self-confidence problems.
EMDR is based on the Adaptive Information Processing model (AIP) which proposes that the mental health difficulties described above are caused by maladaptive encoding/incomplete processing of traumatic and disturbing adverse childhood experiences. This is because the nature of the event, and what was going on for the person at that time means that natural processes are disturbed as the raw emotion is just too great. EMDR supports the resumption of normal information processing and memory integration in a way that is manageable for the person.
EMDR sessions can be between 60 and 90 minutes in duration. The initial sessions focus on a trauma-focussed assessment of the problem including current triggers and factors that may be maintaining the problem, or that could get in the way of you making changes in the therapy. The next phase is known as ‘preparation and stabilisation’ which involves building adequate current stability and safety using therapeutic resources. When this is established for individuals they can then progress to working specifically on processing the trauma memories that cause and maintain their current difficulties with the aim of significantly decreasing or alleviating their distress relating to the memory, improving their sense of self, relief from associated bodily disturbance, and resolution of present and future anticipated triggers.
We understand from our client feedback that EMDR can sound a little strange as an approach before undertaking it. For that reason we would recommend that people do explore the evidence-base and client testimonies for this treatment if they are considering it or if it has been suggested to them as possibly helpful. Further information can be found at: https://emdr-europe.org/about/what-is-emdr/