By: Natasha Cooke, LPC-Associate

Supervised by Melissa Barton, MC, LPC-S

EMDR, what is it?

 

So, you’ve recently heard the term EMDR. Maybe you saw someone rave about it on Tik Tok, or heard your therapist or friend mention it. Well, what’s it about?

EMDR is a type of psychotherapy that is rapidly becoming popular for its effective and intriguing therapeutic process. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and according to the EMDR Institute, Inc., was originally intended to alleviate symptoms associated with traumatic memories. Interesting, right? But how does it work? In EMDR therapy, the client attends to emotionally disturbing memories, events, or material while focusing on an external stimulus. This is typically done with a therapist directing lateral eye movements, but other hand-tapping or auto stimulation are also sometimes used. Thus, new associations with the disturbing material result in a reduction or elimination of emotional distress and development of cognitive insight. Some clients even report feeling much better after only a few sessions. 

Who does EMDR work for?

EMDR can work for a wide range of individuals, usually who have experienced a form of trauma. According to EMDRIA, EMDR International Association, research has shown that EMDR is an effective treatment for those with anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), chronic pain, addiction, and other distressing life experiences. 

Training for EMDR

EMDR therapy can be practiced as a form of therapy by a person who holds a valid license, certification, or registration to practice as a mental health care professional and is trained in EMDR. EMDR Training provides clinicians with the skills and knowledge to conduct EMDR therapy. During training, mental health professionals acquire an understanding of case conceptualization, treatment planning, and learn how to integrate EMDR therapy into their practice. An EMDRIA Approved EMDR Basic Training provides clinicians with instruction in the current EMDR explanatory model, methodology, and mechanisms of EMDR through lectures, practice, and integrated consultation. 

*Information obtained from emdria.org*

Overview of the 8 EMDR phases:

History & Treatment Planning

During the first stage, there is a discussion of the client’s history, development of a treatment plan that carefully considers traumatic events to reprocess, and an assessment of the client’s external and internal resources.

Preparation

Rapport between us is established and a therapeutic alliance is built. The EMDR process and expectations are explained to you. In this stage, the client’s concerns are addressed, and questions are answered. Clients are prepared with coping techniques to respond to emotional disturbance that may arise during treatment. 

Assessment

The event to process is identified, including images, beliefs, feelings, and sensations. Baseline measures established by using the Subjective United of Distress (SUD) and Validity of Cognition (VOC).

Desensitization

During Desensitization, eye movements, taps, and other dual attention is done while you think about the traumatic event. There is a focus on decreasing the client’s SUD, and allowing new feelings, thoughts, images, and sensations to emerge. 

Installation

During the Installation stage, the goal is to strengthen a positive belief that the client wishes to associate with the target event until it eventually feels genuine and true. 

Body Scan

During a Body Scan, we ask the client to think about both the target event and positive belief while scanning the body from head to toe. The client will process any disturbance lingering from the body with dual attention BLS. 

Closure

The trained EMDR therapist will assist the client to return to a calm state in the present moment, regardless of whether the processing is complete or not complete. Reprocessing of the traumatic event is complete with the client feeling neutral about it. 

Re-Evaluation

At the start of each new session, the therapist and the client discuss recently processed memories, ensuring that distress remains low and positive cognition is strong. Future targets and discussion of continued treatment occurs. 

Start Therapy in Katy, Texas

Therapy comes in all shapes and sizes, there is never a one size fits all. Luckily, we can help in our comfortable, Katy, TX counseling center.  Here we provide services and can help from wherever you are in the state with online therapy in Texas. To start receiving counseling services for failure to launch syndrome, follow these steps:

1. Contact us to schedule an appointment. 
2. Get to know your new counselor.
3. Help your adult child develop the tools they need to make steps towards their goals.  

Other Therapy Services Offered with Barton Counseling Services 

At Barton Counseling Services, we offer many mental health services in Katy, Texas. We’re able to offer counseling for young adults, counseling for anxiety, depression, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Additionally, she can provide supervision for LPC Interns. Contact our office to learn more!