EMDR Therapy: Answers to Common Questions from a Missouri Therapist
EMDR therapy is a safe and effective approach to treating trauma and anxiety. If you have been struggling with symptoms that don't seem to go away, EMDR may be the right treatment for you! In this blog post, we will answer some of the most common questions that people have about EMDR. We hope this information will help you decide if EMDR is the right treatment for you!
What is EMDR?
EMDR is a type of therapy that helps people process and heal from trauma. It is a safe and effective treatment for PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. EMDR is an acronym for "eye movement desensitization and reprocessing." This type of therapy was developed in the late 1980s by Dr. Francine Shapiro.
EMDR therapy is based on the idea that our brains are able to heal from trauma and other negative experiences. When we experience a traumatic event, our brains can get "stuck" in that moment. And often, our brains are not only responding to what is happening in this moment but responding based on past experiences we've had at various points in our lives. This can lead to symptoms like anxiety, flashbacks, and nightmares. EMDR therapy can help "unstick" these memories and help our brains process them in a healthy way.
Is EMDR hypnosis?
No, EMDR is not hypnosis. During EMDR therapy, you will be fully aware and in control of what is happening. You will not be in a trance-like state or under the control of the therapist.
I'm not sure where the myth that EMDR is hypnosis comes from. Probably because one of the key components of EMDR therapy is what we call bilateral stimulation and that began with eye movement. During EMDR therapy, you may be asked to move your eyes back and forth, tap your hands, or listen to bilateral sound. This is done in order to help the brain process information in a different way. And it feels really different than traditional talk therapy. But even when the bilateral stimulation comes in the form of eye movement, this therapy is simply not hypnosis.
How does EMDR work?
EMDR works by helping the brain process information in a different way. When we experience a traumatic event, our brains can get "stuck" in that moment. And often, our brains are not only responding to what is happening in this moment but responding based on past experiences we've had at various points in our lives.
EMDR therapy can help "unstick" these memories and help our brains process them in a healthy way.
What's the difference between EMDR and traditional talk therapy?
EMDR is a newer, nontraditional form of psychotherapy designed to diminish negative feelings associated with memories of traumatic events. EMDR focuses less on the traumatic event itself and more on the disturbing emotions and symptoms that result from the event.
Talk therapy, particularly older evidence based trauma therapies, while effective, often involve discussing the details of the trauma and can almost feel re-traumatizing to some clients. EMDR is a bit more gentle in that respect because we are not asking you to relive the trauma.
I also love that EMDR really trusts the brain to guide the healing process. In traditional talk therapy, the therapist is kind of the expert and they guide you through your healing process. In EMDR, we trust that your brain knows how to heal itself and we are just there to facilitate that process. In a session, your therapist might help guide you where to start but then your brain makes the connections it needs to make and takes you where you need to go to fully process the trauma or whatever is keeping you stuck. Of course, the therapist still is there to provide you support and you still may experience really intense moments. In fact, many of my clients report feeling exhausted after sessions. But overall I think it's just amazing to see how much of the "guiding" of an EMDR therapy session is truly done by the client's own brain.
What are the benefits of EMDR?
EMDR therapy has been found to be an effective treatment for PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. It often works faster than traditional talk therapy. And EMDR can be particularly helpful for people who have had trauma that is hard to talk about or who have not responded well to traditional talk therapy.
If you are considering EMDR therapy, I encourage you to reach out to a trauma therapist who is fully trained in this modality to see if it might be a good fit for you.
Does EMDR help me remember what happened during a trauma?
EMDR does not necessarily help you remember what happened during a trauma. In fact, for some people, it can actually help them to forget some of the details of what happened. What EMDR does is help you to process the emotions and symptoms that result from a trauma.
For example, someone who was in a car accident may not remember the details of the accident itself but they may still have symptoms of anxiety or PTSD. EMDR can help to lessen the symptoms even if the person does not remember the details of the accident.
Honestly, forgetting pieces, sometimes very large pieces, of a traumatic experience is common. So, it's not unusual that someone coming into counseling for trauma work is interested in remembering exactly what happened.
However, it's not necessary to remember every detail of a trauma in order for EMDR or any other trauma therapy to be effective. You may find that you do remember more during or after therapy but it's not necessary for healing to occur.
Where did EMDR originate?
EMDR was originally developed to treat PTSD but has been found to be helpful for other mental health conditions as well. It was developed in the 1980s by Francine Shapiro, a psychologist.
What is EMDR used to treat?
EMDR was originally developed to treat PTSD symptoms. However, it can also be used to help with other things like anxiety, addiction, self esteem or just helping people get "unstuck."
Who benefits from EMDR?
EMDR can be helpful for people who have experienced a traumatic event or who have other mental health conditions like anxiety or addiction. EMDR may work for people who haven't felt much better after participating in traditional talk therapy or people who simply aren't ready to open up and verbally speak about some of the things they experienced.
I find EMDR is particularly helpful for people who have noticed some common themes coming up over and over again in various areas of their life or at various points in time.
Is EMDR safe?
Yes, EMDR is a safe and effective treatment for trauma and anxiety. It has been extensively researched and has helped millions of people heal from their trauma.
Will I have to think about traumatic memories right away when I start EMDR?
No, you will begin with some intake and history taking for the therapist to get a clear picture of what's bringing you in, how you're functioning and what needs to be addressed in your work together. Then, you'll move onto what therapists call the "resourcing" phase of EMDR treatment.
This part of treatment is all about helping you feel safe and giving you specific resources to help calm your nervous system when you start to feel overwhelmed, what your therapist may call moving outside your window of tolerance.
During this phase of treatment, your thearpist may teach you a variety of different imagery and stress reduction techniques that you can use during and between sessions. There is a very specific way of teaching using resources in EMDR where you'll start to incorporate bilateral stimulation (tapping your shoulders or your knees for instance) as you think about something calming or something that evokes an emotion you want to increase in that moment.
What can I expect during an EMDR therapy session?
EMDR therapy is done in a series of therapy sessions. And there are 8 phases of EMDR treatment. However, most commonly people who ask this question are really talking about phases 3-6 where a target is identified and processed using EMDR therapy procedures.
In this portion of EMDR, during each session, you will work with your EMDR therapist to identify a specific memory or event that is causing you distress. You will then be asked to focus on that memory while the therapist guides you through different eye movements or other bilateral stimulation (watching a lightbar, listening to tones moving between your ears, watching dots move across a computer screen, tapping alternating knees, etc).
This may sound strange, but it is actually a very natural process. You focus on the memory or other target while also paying attention to something else and the therapist will help guide you through the process.
The bilateral stimulation helps to reduce the intensity of the emotions attached to the memory so that you can process it in a more adaptive way. The bilateral stimulation, even though it may feel incredibly different than what you're used to doing in counseling session, is what holds the magic and sets this type of therapy apart.
EMDR is a very specific type of therapy with a specific protocol that must be followed in order to ensure safety and efficacy. It is important to work with a therapist who has received proper training in EMDR and is able to provide you with the highest quality of care.
Can EMDR be done through online therapy sessions?
Absolutely! You can do EMDR online with a therapist who is trained in providing this type of therapy. I'm happy to say, based both on research I've read and my own personal experience, that EMDR can be very effective when delivered online!
My own experience with virtual EMDR
Honestly, I was trained in EMDR in two three day training sessions held in December 2019 and January 2020. This means my training was completed in person and we barely touched on how to offer EMDR therapy online. However, when the Covid19 pandemic hit just a couple of months later and suddenly all of my therapy clients were moved online, I knew I needed to quickly learn to provide EMDR effectively online.
Luckily, I was still under consultation and my trainer had been in offering EMDR therapy online (or even over the phone) for years so she was able to teach us lots of tips and tricks right away. Then, other EMDR therapists who had been having success offering remote EMDR began offering trainings and I watched all the videos, read all the articles and attended all of the consultation sessions I could.
And guess what? I was shocked how well EMDR worked online for my clients! In fact, a number of my clients chose not to return to in person EMDR when I began seeing clients in the office again because they were so satisfied with their results. And even though I was based in Columbia, I found I was able to offer EMDR services to people in Blue Springs, KC, the Springfield area, Wentzville, Rolla or just throughout the state.
Ever since March 2020, I've helped many clients get "unstuck" using virtual EMDR services. And the other clinicians in Aspire Counseling have helped even more Missourians with EMDR.
Where can I learn more about EMDR?
If you want to learn more about EMDR, I would encourage you to start with exploring the EMDRIA website. This is an excellent resource for both people who are considering participating in EMDR therapy as well as for EMDR therapists like myself. There is a lot of quality research about EMDR as well as other resources for both people participating in EMDR as well as EMDR therapists.
I would also encourage you to reach out to a therapist who is trained in EMDR if you have questions or would like to explore whether this type of therapy may be right for you. If you're interested in starting EMDR therapy in Missouri, you can reach out to our team and one of our EMDR therapists would be happy to answer your questions.
Where can I go to get EMDR therapy?
If you're interested in getting EMDR therapy, you can reach out to a therapist who is trained in EMDR. Honestly, EMDR has a pretty intensive training process. Therapists usually learn EMDR through either a 5 day training or two different 3 day training sessions like I did. Then, to be "fully trained" you have to start using EMDR and participate in at least 10 consultation sessions within the first two years you are trained. Beyond that, there is a lengthy certification process some EMDR therapists go through.
I'm lucky to have colleagues throughout the United States who offer EMDR that I've consulted with and spoken to about this treatment. For example, I may refer people looking for an EMDR therapist in Chicago to Obsidian Counseling & Wellness. Or I might refer someone looking for EMDR in Michigan to Unity Counseling. In Philadelphia, Hannah Guy offers EMDR. The bottom line is that I've had the honor of meeting EMDR therapists around the country and even some internationally. So, if you're having trouble finding someone, reach out to our intake team, mention where you've located (therapists can only see clients in the state they are licensed) and ask if I might have a recommendation or referral.
EMDR in Missouri
If you're looking for EMDR therapy in Missouri, Aspire Counseling has several therapists who are licensed in Missouri and able to offer EMDR services. We can see you in person in our Columbia, MO counseling office. Or, we offer online therapy services and regularly see people from throughout the state including people in Blue Springs, St. Joseph, Warensburg, Springfield, Wentzville, Rolla, and other parts of Missouri.
You don't have to stay stuck. It IS possible to feel better. It may take a few sessions of EMDR or it may take some longer term work. But healing is possible and it's time you have the support you need to move forward. So, I encourage you to take the next step and reach out for help.
To get started:
Fill out a contact form and our team will contact you OR call us at 573-328-2288
Meet with one of our EMDR therapists for a free consultation to see if it's a good fit
Start your EMDR journey in Missouri with Aspire Counseling!
Other Mental Health Services in Missouri At Aspire Counseling
Mental health isn't a one size fits all. And EMDR isn't a fit for every single Missourian looking for mental health support. Luckily, Aspire Counseling offers a wide range of mental health services. We place a heavy emphasis on providing evidence based counseling services. That means we use therapies that have been researched and shown to be effective.
In addition to EMDR, some of the other services we offer include DBT, Cognitive Processing Therapy (another trauma therapy), TF-CBT for kids with PTSD, ERP for OCD and other evidence based treatments. We offer depression counseling, anxiety treatment, grief counseling, trauma therapy, support for major life transitions and OCD treatment. While most of our Missouri therapists only offer services in English, we do have one therapist who is also able to offer counseling in Spanish. In addition, we are LGBTQIA+ affirming and welcome all genders and sexual orientations. We want everyone to feel safe & welcome at our practice.
About the Author
Jessica Tappana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Missouri. She specializes in working with people who have experienced trauma and offers EMDR therapy at Aspire Counseling. Jessica is also trained in a variety of other evidence based mental health treatments including Cognitive Processing Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy & Exposure Response Prevention for OCD. She is the founder of Aspire Counseling and believes that every single person deserves the highest quality counseling. She believes strongly in the power of psychotherapy to transform lives and has been honored to work with countless clients over the year during portions of their healing journey. She cares about reaching even more clients in the years to come by supporting the amazing clinicians at Aspire Counseling and giving them everything they need to be successful in helping their clients.
