EMDR therapy, while widely known in the counseling world, is becoming a popular topic among therapy-goers as well. EMDR was originally founded to treat survivors of trauma; it is now a great option to treat other mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
While EMDR is becoming more popular, it is often shrouded in mystery. While knowledge of what EMDR involves is readily available, what to expect in a session is often a mystery. Maybe you have been looking into EMDR therapy but aren't sure what to expect. Let's talk about that.
What Are EMDR Sessions Like?
One of the first questions people have about EMDR is how long the sessions will take. Typically, an EMDR session will take anywhere between 60 to 90 minutes. This is longer than a talk therapy session, typically at most 50 minutes. EMDR can be conducted in person or virtually via video call.
EMDR sessions are different because they are conducted through eight phases, often combined into one single session.
First Session(s)
You're anxious to get started with therapy and want to get into the nitty-gritty of it, right? Well, that's completely understandable; a strong foundation for EMDR therapy needs to be established first. What does that mean, though?
First, a relationship of trust and understanding will begin between yourself and the therapist you are working with. While this is important with any therapy, it's especially true for EMDR. You should feel comfortable enough with your therapist that you can openly express your thoughts, feelings, and memories. By no means do you have to talk about everything, but open communication is essential.
In your first few sessions, you'll establish a history intake process. During the history intake phase, you will discuss what memories or experiences are causing you the most tension and stress. It will help establish a baseline for what will be targeted during the EMDR sessions. In these sessions, EMDR and how it works will be fully explained to you, and you'll go over what to expect during the next few phases.
Next Sessions
After the history intake phase is over, you'll slowly start to dive into EMDR. After your first few initial sessions, you won't have to worry about the history intake portion since that will be complete. Each session will cover as much as possible in the time allotted. There is no time limit on how long each phase will take. Some phases may go quicker than others. It will always be up to you and the therapist if you both feel ready to move on to the next phase.
Phase 2 of EMDR will involve going over coping techniques. These techniques will be useful for you in the actual session and afterward. They are meant to help you deal with stress, tension, and any negative feelings you may be experiencing.
Phases 3 through 6 are when EMDR actually begins. During these sessions, your therapist will ask you to recall or think about the specific memory you set out to target in Phase 1. They will also ask you questions as needed.
Using bilateral eye movements or tapping, you will follow guided eye movements with your therapist. These eye movements are meant to help you reprocess the memories or feelings associated with what you are targeting.
Phase 7 is for closure. During this phase, you and your therapist will discuss the progress so far. It will help you determine what coping techniques you established earlier worked best for you.
Phase 8 is the reevaluation phase. During this phase, you will discuss anything that didn't work with your treatment and what you may want to change in future sessions.
Next Steps
If you are ready to learn more about EMDR therapy, don't hesitate to reach out to learn more about how I can support you.
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