What is an EMDR Therapist?
Nowadays, there are many therapy approaches to choose from. You might even be overwhelmed by your choices and unsure which one would be the best fit. EMDR therapy is growing in popularity for those struggling with a traumatic experience. If you’ve heard of EMDR, you might be wondering whether it’s pseudoscience or what the therapist’s role in an EMDR session is. EMDR therapists have specialized training to guide you through reprocessing the memory of your traumatic event.
First—what is EMDR therapy?
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy was developed in the late ‘80s by a psychologist looking to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It uses the science of memory and psychotherapy to help your brain process a memory. The goal is to take a traumatic experience and install positive thoughts and feelings instead of unwanted thoughts and emotions. Research has shown that moving your eyes from side to side helps you complete the trauma cycle and process negative experiences. EMDR is recognized worldwide as an effective therapy for trauma patients.
What happens in an EMDR session?
The bilateral stimulation doesn’t happen in your first session, so don’t worry about how stressful that might sound. EMDR takes multiple sessions (from 8 to 12 or more) to work up to sessions that actually discuss your trauma. Your first few sessions will involve the following:
- Developing a treatment plan.
- Your goals for therapy.
- Choosing a target memory for the eye movement sessions.
Instead of just walking your therapist through your traumatic event by describing it in detail, you’ll talk about the negative feelings, unwanted thoughts, and physical sensations associated with this event. This means EMDR is also useful for people who don’t have a complete recollection of their traumatic event. Your therapist will also teach you relaxation techniques and how to cope with the negative feelings that will likely come up at some point during your treatment.
Eventually, you will describe your target memory (if that is appropriate for your treatment plan) or the distressing emotions associated with it as your therapist guides your eyes from left to right. They might use a pen, a pointer, a light, or just their hands to direct your gaze to both sides of the body. Sometimes this takes multiple sessions. At the end of each session, your therapist will talk you through your physical and emotional sensations and help you decompress.
Later, your therapist will then install a new positive thought or wanted emotion to replace the distressing, unwanted thoughts in your experience. You will repeat these phases with your therapist as many times as necessary.
What training does an EMDR therapist have?
EMDR therapists have extensive university or post-graduate training. They take coursework in trauma-specific therapies, EMDR-specific techniques, and clinical practice hours. They are then reviewed by a consultant who evaluates their clinical work. Only then can they be certified to practice EMDR therapy with real-world clients. EMDR certification must also be renewed every couple of years, which involves more training. Needless to say, therapists trained in EMDR must keep up with the latest research and industry-wide practices.
Should you try EMDR therapy?
Maybe you’ve never had therapy before, or perhaps you’ve already tried traditional cognitive therapies, and they haven’t worked for you. If you’ve been struggling to get past a trauma that’s affecting your life, EMDR might be the right fit. EMDR is also suitable for people with other concerns, such as:
- Bipolar disorder
- Anxiety disorders
- Psychosis
- Substance abuse
- Eating disorders
To find out more about whether EMDR therapy is right for you, please reach out to us.
