SO…What is EMDR??
If you’ve been exploring therapy options, you may have come across Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR and wondered what it actually is. To help break it down, I spoke with Kenzi Coon, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and private practice owner, about how EMDR works, who it’s for, and why they enjoy using it in their practice.
So, what exactly is EMDR?
Kenzi: Simply put, EMDR is a modality used to address impacts of traumatic experiences. In practice it isn’t that simple, however people often find a great deal of improvement in their symptomology. EMDR has a unique approach of using a structured set of target memories in combination with bilateral stimulation to allow the brain/body to process the memories in a safe way. EMDR is based on the Adaptive Information Processing model, which theorizes that new information can be applied to old memories to allow for the memory to be stored adaptively. It is important to note that EMDR comes with a lot of prep work so that clients feel prepared to navigate the traumatic memories before they start. It is also my professional opinion that you need a strong therapeutic relationship between the clinician and client before starting EMDR. The goal of EMDR is to be able to recall traumatic experiences without being overwhelmed by them or the emotions that come along with them.
What kinds of concerns or challenges can EMDR help with?
Kenzi: I have found EMDR to be helpful with a variety of mental health conditions including PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, and OCD. EMDR can be helpful with symptoms including panic attacks, dreams that cause distress, future events that are causing distress, and negative beliefs that someone develops about themself or the world due to a traumatic experience.
Who tends to be a good fit for EMDR?
Kenzi: What I am looking for in my clients to determine readiness for EMDR is the development of emotion management skills and some sense of stability in their world. EMDR can bring up difficult and complex emotions, so clients need to be able to identify and tolerate a heavy emotional load. I am looking for decreased dissociative coping, so again the ability to tolerate their emotional experience without becoming dissociated. I am also assessing for how safe the client feels with me as the clinician and in the therapy space. Trauma survivors often have difficulty developing safety in relationships so this can take some time to develop.
Someone that might not be a good fit is someone that suffers from seizure disorders, severe migraine disorders or vision disorders. The medical provider should be consulted if you have the above conditions. Pregnant mothers should also consult with their providers. If someone is actively in psychosis they are not a candidate until they are stabilized.
I find that people are most successful when they have done a decent amount of therapeutic work first. EMDR should not be rushed, I believe it should be a somewhat slow process to allow your system to digest what comes up.
What do you personally like about using EMDR?
Kenzi: I like the framework that EMDR provides for approaching trauma. It includes significant psychoeducation around how we are impacted socially and biologically by trauma and ways to cope with this. And of course I love when people feel better and feel less bogged down by things that probably never should’ve happened to them! The absolute best part to witness is that when EMDR is done successfully a client’s sense of self is restored in a really healthy way. Our sense of self impacts every single facet of our lives so there is this blooming affect that is incredible to witness.
EMDR can feel a little mysterious at first, but for many people it becomes a powerful way to process experiences and find a new perspective.
If you’re curious about whether EMDR might be a good fit for you, you’re always welcome to reach out and ask questions.
Curious about EMDR or ready to get started?
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