EMDR for emotional disturbance and past trauma
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy used to treat the symptoms of trauma. When you experience traumatic events the thoughts, feelings and memories we have about the event can get stuck. It can be hard to move on. The aim of EMDR is to help the brain to reprocess distressing touchstone memories. This reduces the influence of past trauma in the present and allows clients to develop ways to more effectively get on with their lives.
EMDR is recommended by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as the first treatment for people with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. It can also help those experiencing self-esteem, emotional and behavioural difficulties rooted in their childhood. Sessions are held weekly and last up to 90 minutes. For most clients a small number of sessions are offered. Severe trauma EMDR therapy can last for a year or more.
During therapy sessions you are supported to recall a traumatic event and at the same time receive bilateral stimulation. This means receiving stimuli in a rhythmic left-right pattern. The stimuli can be something you hear, see or feel. For example, bilateral stimulation could involve:
- moving your eyes from side to side
- tapping movements on different sides of your body
- tones you hear through one ear then the other wearing headphones
No one quite understands why the eye movement process can reset neural pathways to diminish the emotional impact of past experiences.
