EMDR

(Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)

EMDR is a specialist therapy which helps to quieten memories which feel too loud and to heal the emotional echo of what you’ve already survived.  We work on reducing the symptoms and emotional upset associated with past memories.

My video above is quite in-depth and explains the whole process.    In summary;

When is EMDR Useful?

When we are involved in a distressing or traumatic event, we may feel overwhelmed and sometimes our brains are unable to process the information like it would do with a normal memory.  The memory seems to become frozen on a neurological level.

We can re-experience the sensations from the past and this can feel intense.  (e.g. what we  saw, heard, smelt, tasted or felt).  Often we avoid thinking about the event so to not experience the feelings.

EMDR is cited in the NICE guidelines as a recommended therapy for PTSD, however it is useful for any memory that is causes significant upset.

How EMDR Works

In EMDR the alternating left-right stimulation (bilateral stimulation) of the brain with eye movements, sounds or taps stimulate the frozen or blocked information processing system.  Over sessions the memory reduces in intensity and are less upsetting and more like ‘ordinary’ memories.  EMDR helps reduce the distress of all the different kinds of memories from your senses ( what you saw, heard, smelt, tasted, felt or thought.)

The effect is believed to be similar to that which occurs naturally during REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement) when your eyes rapidly move from side to side.

Although EMDR uses simple eye movements it is a much more intensive therapy with protocols and procedures, which have been well researched for their effectiveness.

What to Expect

I will spend time getting to know your history and ask about the distress you are experiencing, past difficulties, if you have physical problems, the medication you are taking and explore the support you have.

I will spend time demonstrating relaxation exercises with you, which could include ‘safe or pleasant place’ exercises, guided visualisation, deep muscle relaxation and breathing retraining. 

Once you are sufficiently prepared and are able to relax yourself,  we can start to target a memory using bilateral stimulation.   You will be instructed to select an image that represents the distressing event and to think about negative and positive thoughts, your feelings, the amount of distress you feel and where you feel it in your body.

I will then begin bilateral stimilation while you hold the image in mind. After each set I will ask you what came to mind, if there was any change or what you noticed.  

The process involves activating the memory from the brains alarm centre (fight, flight or freeze area of the brain – Amagdala) and processing the memory until it’s been moved to the front part of the brain (Hippocampus) alongside all other healthy memories.

Over sessions events are processed and a reduction in sypmtoms and intensity is usually reported.  At the end of each sesson we practice calming or grounding techniques and/or remind you of practice these regularly between sessions.

Between EDMR Sessions

You may find yourself thinking slightly more about memories for a day or two following sessions.  This is a sign that you are processing the memory.  You may also find that you are dreaming more.

You can keep a record of your own experience to discuss at your next session.  As the sessions continue and the memory continues to be processed the distress decreases with EMDR.

At the end of EMDR therapy, many people report feeling no distress at all when recalling the event.

Sessions

It is important that you are able to dedicate time and commitment to attend regular EMDR sessions.  12 weekly sessions can be sufficient for a single event.  More sessions may be required for multiple events.  Every client and every client’s story is unique to them: as such duration of sessions vastly differ.

During the initial history taking and planning stages we will discuss your priorities, the focus of your work and discuss a realistic plan.  We continue to re-evaluate throughout the process.