As a solo mother and therapist, you would think I would have all of my ducks in a row. After all, I help people unpack their own emotional baggage for a living (and I love it). But the truth is, my ducks are far from being in a row. Actually, I’m pretty sure I don’t even have all the ducks that need to be placed in alignment. So, there’s that.
Enter, EMDR therapy— the trendy new treatment that promises to provide life-changing results in an average of 8-12 sessions. Enticing, right?
For some context, I have spent years listening to clients and colleagues rave about EMDR, which stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. You know, the therapy that involves watching a therapist’s fingers move back and forth while you process through trauma. Kidding. Kind of.
Sure, it sounds a little woo-woo, but I was intrigued enough to want to try it out and eventually to be trained in the modality to support my clients better and to calm my own anxiety. When something scares me, I like to learn all I can about it to provide myself with some perceived control!
EMDR works by helping clients reprocess distressing or activating memories, emotions, or recurring themes from their lives. A therapist guides the client to bring experiences to mind, often those that are emotionally charged or traumatic. As this is done, the client is engaged in bilateral stimulation such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones.
During this process, clients may notice thoughts, feelings, or somatic (body-based) sensations that are not interrupted or spoken to, but rather processed in a structured way. Over time, this allows the brain to process the experiences, which allows for a reduction in emotional intensity when the memory or experience is considered.
