Guide to EMDR
Fears & Realities of EMDR Therapy
By Susan Tang
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) is a relatively new therapeutic intervention that is starting to attention from the multiplicity of benefits that it offers. For example, EMDR can create a change in one’s thoughts, a change in concentration and focus, a reduction in chronic pain and suffering, improved self-esteem and self-confidence, improved sleep, improved relationships, and a resolution to trauma and traumatic experiences. Although there are a number of benefits that EMDR may bring to the table, there are also a lot of fears that may emerge as it’s not like traditional talk therapy. In this blog, I’m hoping to clarify a few of the fears that I’ve encountered in session so that you can feel further informed as to whether EMDR may be the best fit for you and your needs.
Fear – EMDR works for everyone.
Reality – Just like any other intervention that exists, EMDR can help a number of individuals to heal and overcome their mental health challenges, however, it’s also important to recognize that EMDR therapy may not be the best intervention for all individuals to receive. EMDR is a structured intervention and because of its structure, there is stage in which the therapist will complete an assessment to determine whether EMDR will be the best fit for the client and their needs. In this assessment, the therapist will be looking to see how the client manages and navigates their feelings of stress; their current challenges, resources, skills, and support systems; their medication conditions, substance use, self-harm, and suicide attempts. All of these elements can have an impact on how effective or ineffective EMDR may be for them.
Fear – EMDR will make me forget about my trauma.
Reality – The overall objective of EMDR is to help clients reflect on and reprocess any experiences that may cause a level of distress, so that the brain can continue engaging and exercising its natural capacity to heal itself. What this means is that these distressing experiences will still be remembered, but it will be desensitized, where clients will no longer be bothered by it in their day-to-day lives, and the trauma- and stress-related responses – such as anxiety and depression for instance – will no longer impact them the way that it used to.
Fear – EMDR won’t work for me because I don’t remember my trauma.
Reality – EMDR is still an effective mental health treatment even if clients don’t remember their trauma. To be completely honest, it’s absolutely normal if clients do not remember their experiences entirely as the brain will distort or distance itself from certain experiences, emotions, reactions, or thoughts, in an effort to shield itself from harm and further suffering, which means that the brain is doing its job that it was tasked to do. There are times, where remembering certain experiences, emotions, reactions, or thoughts, may not be the best course of action for oneself. EMDR is an incredible intervention for those who may not remember what happened to them, for those who struggle with talking about the trauma, or for those who don’t want to talk about the trauma. The impact of these experiences can be stored not only in one’s brain but also in the body in ways that are outside of one’s consciousness. With the help of EMDR, this therapeutic intervention can access those experiences in order to reflect on and reprocess them.
Fear – EMDR will make my symptoms worse because I have to talk about my trauma.
Reality – There has been empirical evidence that highlights the effective and safe nature of this therapeutic intervention. Due to the structure nature of EMDR, there is a stage in which the trained therapist will support the client to develop skills and strategies to better tolerate the emotional distress associated with their experiences. As mentioned in the earlier statements, EMDR does not require clients to talk about their trauma at all and as a result of this unique element, it makes this intervention less overwhelming than other approaches used to treat trauma and trauma-related responses. Once the client has developed the appropriate skills and strategies to tolerate their emotional distress, the client will undergo a stage of desensitization. In the aftermath of this stage, the client may experience a few side effects to having their brain reprocessing their memories, such as a heightened state of awareness, having vivid dreams, having new insights about self or others, and so forth. All of these side effects are normal and will last approximately 24-48hrs. This does not mean that clients would have to take the next two days off to take care of themselves, rather they can continue their day-to-day activities with a sense of awareness that something is shifting inside themselves and to be mindful of those oncoming emotions and sensations.
I hope this clarifies a few fears that you may have about EMDR therapy. If there are any additional curiosities that you may have about EMDR, do reach out and connect with me. My name is Susan Tang, and I am a Registered Social Worker at Straight Up Health. I offer a free 15-minute consultation to determine whether EMDR Therapy would be the best fit for you and your needs. So, if you are interested in booking a consultation with me, I would encourage you to email admin@straightuphealth.ca or call 647-560-2557. I look forward to connecting with you soon!