EMDR-Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

What is EMDR?

EMDR (which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy which is especially helpful for processing disturbing life experiences which continue to affect day to day functioning. These life experiences can be major traumas or they can be adverse life events and relationships which result in feelings of stress, depression and anxiety. EMDR is a recommended treatment for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and can also assist with struggles associated with adverse recent or past life experiences which can contribute to mood and anxiety disorders as well as stress or burnout.

From the EMDR Institute…

EMDR enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes.

What happens in sessions when my psychologist uses EMDR?

The initial session consists of gaining a thorough and careful understanding of your presenting concerns and background. Like all psychology sessions, it is very important that you feel comfortable and that the match with your treating psychologist is the right fit as the therapeutic relationship is first and foremost.

You may be given some questionnaires or homework to complete in preparation for your next session.

In subsequent sessions, your psychologist will teach you some techniques to help you to access a calm relaxed feeling, will work with you to identify treatment goals and focus, will explore the presenting issues and work out the best place to begin.

Your psychologist will use movements known as bilateral stimulation which involves eye movements, taps or tones while processing memory content to help it integrate differently into the brain. This sounds a little unusual but EMDR is gaining very solid research outcomes and has the advantage of producing change for many clients more quickly than other therapy approaches or where other therapy approaches have not been as successful. For this reason, we have chosen to integrate a strong EMDR approach in our work with our clients at Brisbane Wellbeing Psychologists.

Interested to learn more about EMDR?

• EMDR Research
• Phoenix Australia Centre for Post Traumatic Health Treatment Guidelines for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
• “In a Crisis, We Can Learn From Trauma Therapy: Emotional resilience can be deliberately cultivated. But it takes work.” New York Times Article by Eva Holland

At Brisbane Wellbeing Psychologists EMDR is practiced by Shannon Yeardley, Rebecca Alaama, Claire Pang and Deb Worboys.