What
are the 8 Phases of EMDR therapy?
EMDR Phase
1: History Taking and Treatment Planning
In the first phase the therapist gathers
information about the client's history, including traumatic experiences,
current symptoms, and the client's readiness for EMDR therapy. Together, the
therapist and the client develop a treatment plan tailored to the client's
specific needs and goals.
EMDR Phase
2: Preparation
During this phase, the therapist educates
the client about EMDR therapy and establishes trust and rapport. The client
learns coping skills to manage distress and enhance emotional regulation.
Preparation also involves identifying safe places or calming imagery that the
client can use as resources during EMDR sessions.
EMDR Phase
3: Assessment
The assessment phase involves identifying
target memories or experiences to process using EMDR. The therapist helps the
client choose specific memories related to distressing emotions, negative
beliefs about themselves, or traumatic events. They explore the emotions,
sensations, and beliefs associated with each target memory.
EMDR Phase
4: Desensitisation
In this phase, the therapist guides the
client through bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, taps, or auditory
tones, while the client holds the target memory in mind. The bilateral
stimulation facilitates the processing of the memory, allowing the client to
reprocess it in a less distressing way. As the memory is desensitised, the
associated emotions and beliefs begin to diminish in intensity.
EMDR Phase
5: Installation
Once the distress associated with the
target memory has decreased significantly, the therapist helps the client
strengthen positive beliefs or adaptive coping strategies related to the
memory. Through bilateral stimulation, the client "installs" these
positive beliefs, enhancing their sense of self-worth, safety, and resilience.
EMDR Phase
6: Body Scan
During the body scan phase, the therapist
helps the client identify and process any residual physical sensations or
tension associated with the target memory. The client learns to release tension
and relax their body, further integrating the positive changes made during desensitisation
and installation.
EMDR Phase
7: Closure
At the end of each session, the therapist
ensures that the client feels stable and grounded before concluding the
session. They may use relaxation techniques or grounding exercises to help the
client return to a state of equilibrium. Closure provides a sense of
containment and safety, preventing the client from feeling overwhelmed between
sessions.
EMDR Phase
8: Re-evaluation
In the final phase, the therapist reviews
the progress made in previous sessions and assesses whether additional targets
need to be addressed. They may also address any new material that emerged
during processing and update the treatment plan accordingly. Re-evaluation
ensures that the client's therapeutic goals are being met and guides future
sessions.
These eight phases constitute the standard
framework of EMDR therapy, guiding clients through a structured process of
reprocessing traumatic memories and fostering healing and resilience.
Why
bring up a painful memory in EMDR therapy?
Avoiding painful memories perpetuates
their distressing impact. However, a flashback or nightmare can feel as
upsetting and overwhelming as the original experience, yet not be helpful. In
therapy, and with EMDR, you can face the memory in a safe setting, so that you
do not feel overwhelmed. Then you can get through it and move on.
Will
I be in control during EMDR therapy sessions?
The thoughts, feelings, or memories that
surface during EMDR are unpredictable and depend on each individual's healing
process. Clients retain control over whether to continue or halt the session,
as well as the extent of disclosure to the therapist.
Are
there any precautions to know about before engaging in EMDR therapy?
Yes, adherence to specific procedures is
vital in EMDR therapy. These are based on the client's presenting issues, emotional stability, medical
condition, and other factors. Proper training in EMDR therapy is essential for
therapists to ensure the therapy's effectiveness and safety. It is important that a client's capacity to cope with disturbing and distressing memories is assessed before the bilateral stimulation sessions stair in the EMDR therapy.
What
happens after a session of EMDR therapy?
After a session of EMDR therapy, clients may continue
processing the material, experiencing insights, dreams, strong emotions, or
memory recall. These reactions are normal and part of the ongoing healing
process in, but any concerns should be communicated to the EMDR therapist.
How
long does EMDR therapy take?
The duration of EMDR therapy varies based
on factors like the nature of the problem, client history, and tolerance for
emotional disturbance. While some may experience significant improvement after
one session, others may require weeks, months, or even years of treatment. The typical short term EMDR therapy process would span over 8 to 12 sessions.
What
is an EMDR therapy session like?
During an EMDR therapy session, the therapist and
client collaborate to identify the most distressing aspect of the trauma, along
with associated negative beliefs and preferred positive beliefs. The client
then engages in sets of rapid eye movements that stimulates the brain bilaterally while holding these elements in
awareness, gradually diminishing the disturbance associated with the traumatic
memory.
How
does EMDR therapy work?
Research into the mechanisms of EMDR therapy is
ongoing, with studies exploring changes in brain activity post-treatment. EMDR
appears to facilitate the brain's natural trauma processing mechanisms,
particularly those occurring during REM sleep, thereby reducing the distress
associated with traumatic memories.
Is
EMDR therapy evidence-based?
Yes, EMDR therapy is considered an evidence-based
therapy. Numerous studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in treating
various mental health conditions, particularly trauma-related disorders such as
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The effectiveness of EMDR therapy has been
supported by a significant body of research spanning several decades. Many
randomised controlled trials (considered the gold standard in research
methodology) have shown that EMDR is as effective as, or sometimes more
effective than, traditional forms of psychotherapy in reducing symptoms of PTSD
and other trauma-related disorders.
Additionally, meta-analyses, which combine
data from multiple studies, have consistently found positive outcomes for EMDR
across diverse populations and settings. These findings have led organisations
such as the American Psychological Association (APA), the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
(NICE) to endorse Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-TF) and EMDR therapy as a recommended treatment for trauma-related conditions.
While the precise mechanisms underlying
EMDR's effectiveness are still being studied, research suggests that the
therapy facilitates the brain's natural healing processes, allowing individuals
to process traumatic memories and associated emotions in a more adaptive way.