How Does EMDR Therapy Work?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an effective, evidence-based treatment for a variety of mental health conditions, including PTSD, OCD, and MDD. We do know that it works, but there’s still a lot to learn about how it works. Let’s go over what we do know about how EMDR works, what it can treat, and how to decide if it’s the right next step in your healing journey.

What We Know About How EMDR Works

The research we currently have shows that EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) significantly reduces symptoms of trauma in as little as six to twelve sessions. The name refers to eye movement because that is the original form of bilateral stimulation (BLS) therapists used to perform EMDR sessions.  

While we don’t know for sure exactly how EMDR works in the brain, the Adaptive Information Processing Model provides a roadmap explaining how we think it works.

The Adaptive Information Processing Model

According to this model, one of the main reasons for many mental health systems is that a distressing memory is “stuck” because of how it is linked to the nervous system’s response. Once the memory is processed, the person can recall the memory clearly without experiencing negative symptoms, such as flashbacks or panic attacks. AIP states that the brain can heal, and that when healing is blocked, EMDR can help remove blocks and support the brain to reprocess the memory in a more adaptive way.

Possible Underlying Mechanisms

There are several potential explanations of why EMDR for PTSD helps memories get “unstuck,” and it’s very possible that a combination of them are involved. Here’s a quick summary of some of the most popular explanations:

• Dividing Working Memory: Because the patient’s attention is divided between recalling the disturbing memory and following BLS, they are not able to recall the memory as vividly as they normally would.

• Changing Perception: BLS creates a more relaxed state, which may shift a patient’s bodily experience of recalling the memory, reducing related distress.

• Mimicking REM: The eye movements during REM are similar to those created with visual BLS; the brain processes and consolidates memories during REM, so eye movements may put the brain in a similar state.

• Increasing Communication Between Hemispheres: BLS may support stronger communication between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, improving memory retrieval and processing.

Regardless of which underlying mechanisms are responsible, EMDR treatment is an evidence-based modality that can support your healing process.

Does EMDR Always Use A Light Bar?

No, EMDR does not always use a light bar. A light bar is a tool that has lights which go from left to right and back again, creating bilateral stimulation. While bilateral stimulation is an important part of EMDR, there are many other ways to create it, including:

• Using an object or finger to support guided eye movements.

• Tapping on opposite sides of the body.

• Playing neural beats through speakers or headphones.

• Holding buzzers that will go off in alternating hands.

If you’re curious about a specific tool or want to try a different method in your next EMDR session, you can talk to your therapist about which tools they use and what they think would be a good fit for your needs.

What Can EMDR Treat?

EMDR is most well-known for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it’s also been effective in treating other mental health disorders, especially those that may be caused or worsened by traumatic events. Some of the other conditions that EMDR can treat are:

• Acute Stress Disorder

• Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Bipolar Disorder

• Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

• Anorexia Nervosa

• Bulimia Nervosa

• Binge-Eating Disorder

• General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Social Anxiety

If you have questions about whether EMDR would be an effective treatment for you, please contact Phoenix Therapeutics at (224) 276 - 8930 or info@phoenixtherapeutics.org. Our team is happy to discuss treatment options with you and help you schedule an initial session with one of our trauma-informed therapists.

How Does EMDR Help First Responders?

EMDR can help first responders to process the traumatic events they experience through their work. Often, first responders help people through some of the most challenging days of their lives, facing traumatic events such as fires, natural disasters, and medical emergencies. Post-traumatic stress can sometimes develop after one particularly traumatic event or after a gradual buildup of witnessing traumatic events, which is also known as “trauma stacking.”

Unlike more traditional talk therapies, EMDR can meaningfully reduce the distress associated with traumatic memories in just six to twelve sessions. This makes it a strong option as a treatment for PTSD in first responders, who may experience multiple traumatic events over the course of their careers and want to be able to get back to work relatively quickly. 

EMDR can also help first responders build the resilience they need to be able to continue performing at their best, regardless of what each shift throws at them. Because EMDR impacts how your brain processes and stores memories, it can support more resilient ways of thinking about future distressing events as they happen. For example, EMDR can work in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to associate positive beliefs with a distressing memory in place of existing negative beliefs.

When Can I Start EMDR?

You can start EMDR at any time, whether the distressing memory you want to process happened a few days ago or decades ago. For more information about EMDR and whether it can help you, please contact us at Phoenix Therapeutics. You can reach us via call or text at (224) 276 - 8930 or via email at info@phoenixtherapeutics.org.