Most people who aren't familiar with therapy don't realize that there are specific approaches to mental health issues. People generally understand therapy as sitting across from a therapist in an office or online and discussing their issues. Known as traditional or talk therapy, this approach to mental health can be especially useful.
However, for some people, talk therapy is not fully resolving their issues and symptoms. This is when more specific therapy approaches are implemented to help them better. One of these approaches is called EMDR. EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, can help someone with various issues. These issues can range from trauma/PTSD to anxiety. But how exactly does it work in the brain?
How Does EMDR Work?
I
t was discovered that during our deepest sleep cycle, REM, the eye moves rapidly back and forth. This stage typically happens when we dream, process memories, and can recall them back the next morning.
It is on this foundation that EMDR was founded to help treat survivors of trauma. PTSD symptoms occur, in part, due to a painful experience not being fully processed. While the brain does this, turning traumatic experiences to protect it doesn't end up being entirely useful in the long term.
Working with an EMDR therapist, they will use guided eye movements with their fingers to make the brain enter a state similar to REM. With these eye movements and focusing on the targeted memory, they can access memories and sensations that the brain formerly blocked out.
How Long Does It Take?
E
ight phases of EMDR therapy occur. It should be noted that these eight phases don't happen in less than eight sessions. While some phases, such as the beginning few, will typically go quicker, others may take a few sessions to complete. The journey to healing, unfortunately, cannot be rushed. While we would love to be able to speed things along for our clients, we aren't able to rush the process.
In general, we can say that most people will go through 8 to 20 sessions of EMDR therapy.
What Does It Do To The Brain?
While EMDR is scientifically proven to work, what exactly happens in the brain as it is used isn't exactly known. However, there is a lot of knowledge about bilateral stimulation, or eye movements, that is known.
When the eyes follow the rapid finger movements, it stimulates both the right and left sides of your brain. This stimulation allows you to jump over the blockages that happen as a result of trauma or negative emotions.
It's a common misconception that once the brain is fully developed, it cannot change. However, this is where the concept of neuroplasticity is applicable. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to create new pathways. These pathways are what make it hard for someone to heal from past trauma because they get stuck on these blocked pathways.
EMDR works by rewiring these pathways. It helps the brain to heal these previously blocked pathways until the impact of unresolved trauma is lessened.
What Can You Expect In Between Sessions?
There's no concrete answer to this. However, it has consistently shown that there are little to no side effects. It is a 100% safe method. However, during sessions, some people might experience unpleasant sensations in their bodies. In between sessions, it's not uncommon to hear that someone had very vivid dreams and memories surrounding the memory.
If you have been struggling with trauma or other painful emotions, I would love to talk to you more about EMDR therapy and how it can help you heal and move forward from the past.
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