EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing , is an effective psychotherapy method developed to reduce the impact of traumatic events and negative experiences. EMDR therapy is widely used in the treatment of various psychological problems, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Today, EMDR is an internationally accepted treatment approach approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The basic logic of EMDR is to reactivate the information processing processes that are blocked in the brain due to traumatic memories. When traumatic events cannot be processed in a healthy way in the brain, it can lead to problems such as constant anxiety, fear, recurrent nightmares or reliving memories. EMDR therapy removes this blockage and activates the brain's natural healing process.
EMDR is successfully used not only in post-traumatic stress disorder but also in the treatment of the following psychological problems
- Anxiety disorders
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Phobias
- The grieving process
- Addictions
- Self-confidence problems
This therapy method has been proven effective by scientific studies and has achieved significant results in psychological healing.
How is EMDR Therapy Performed?
EMDR treatment is carried out in structured sessions with an expert therapist. The aim of the treatment is to reduce the negative effects of the traumatic memories experienced by the client and to activate the brain's natural healing mechanisms. EMDR treatment usually consists of 8 basic stages and each stage is tailored to the needs of the client.
8 Stages of EMDR Therapy
1. Client Assessment and Treatment Planning
In the first stage of the treatment, the therapist determines the client's history, problems, symptoms and therapy goals. In this process, it is determined which memories the client will work on and the EMDR process is planned.
2. Preparation Phase
At this stage, the therapist explains to the client how the EMDR method will be applied and teaches the necessary coping techniques to manage the emotions that may arise during the therapy. The aim is for the client to feel safe and ready for therapy.
3. Identifying the Target Moment
Together, the therapist and the client identify the traumatic memory or negative experience to be worked on. At this stage, negative thoughts, emotions, body sensations and positive beliefs associated with the memory are also identified.
4. Desensitization Phase
This phase is the heart of EMDR treatment. The therapist asks the client to recall the traumatic memory while following the therapist's hand or an object left and right with their eyes. This bidirectional stimulation allows information to flow between the right and left hemispheres of the brain, reducing the emotional burden of the traumatic memory.
5. The Insertion (Positive Belief) Phase
Once the negative feelings and thoughts about the traumatic memory have subsided, the therapist helps the client to establish a healthier and more positive belief. For example, "I am not guilty," New beliefs such as "I am safe now" or "I can put this behind me" are reinforced.
6. Body Scan Phase
The client is asked to recall the traumatic memory and observe whether there is a disturbing sensation in the body. If there is any discomfort, EMDR eye movements are reapplied and these discomforts are eliminated.
7. Closing Phase
At the end of each EMDR session, the therapist helps the client to return to a safe state of mind. At this stage, the counselor gives suggestions to the client to cope with possible emotional fluctuations that may arise during the session.
8. Reassessment Phase
In the final stage, in the next session, the therapist and the client evaluate the effects of the memory worked on in the previous sessions. If the problem is not completely resolved, the relevant memory is worked on again.
How is EMDR Therapy Applied?
EMDR therapy is applied under the guidance of an expert therapist to reduce psychological problems caused by traumatic memories and negative experiences. This therapy is a structured and highly effective process consisting of certain stages. The client should feel comfortable and safe during EMDR therapy. The basic logic of the therapy is to activate the brain's natural healing process.
EMDR therapy usually involves the following steps:
1. Client Assessment
In the first stage, the therapist conducts a detailed interview to get to know you and your problems. The goals of the therapy, the traumatic events to be worked on and the methods to be applied are determined.
2. Preparation Phase
Your therapist will explain to you how EMDR therapy works. As you may experience strong emotions during the session, she will teach you various relaxation and relaxation techniques to cope with these emotions.
3. Identifying the Target Memory
At this stage, the traumatic memory to be worked on is identified. Together with your therapist, the negative thoughts, feelings and bodily reactions to the memory and the new, positive thoughts to replace them are identified.
4. Desensitization Phase
This is the main part of EMDR therapy. The therapist asks you to think about the traumatic memory and to follow the therapist's fingers or an object with your eyes, moving it left and right. This movement connects the right and left hemispheres of your brain and reduces the impact of the memory on you. The eye movements allow the brain to reprocess the traumatic memories and release the emotional burden.
This process takes a few minutes and is repeated until you feel emotional relief.
5. Instilling Positive Belief
Once the negative feelings of the traumatic memory have subsided, a new, positive thought about the memory is created together with your therapist. For example, "I am safe now," Beliefs such as "It was not my fault," or "I can put this behind me," are implanted and reinforced in the mind.
6. Body Scan
At this stage, you check whether there is still any discomfort or tension in your body when you think about the memory again. If you feel any discomfort, your therapist will work with eye movements again and help you relax.
7. Closing Phase
At the end of each session, your therapist brings you back to a state where you feel safe and calm. Your therapist will offer supportive suggestions for coping with the emotional changes you may experience after the session.
8. Reassessment
In the next session, the effects of the traumatic memory worked on in the previous session are assessed. If the problem still persists, the procedures are repeated until it is resolved.
How is EMDR Treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Since people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) feel as if they are reliving traumatic events over and over again, the application of EMDR treatment requires a slightly different and special approach than other problems. EMDR treatment for PTSD focuses specifically on reducing the fear, avoidance, triggers and emotional outbursts caused by the trauma.
Special Aspects of EMDR in PTSD:
Detailed Assessment of the Trauma
In the case of PTSD, the therapist first analyzes in detail the type of trauma, its severity, recurrent symptoms and triggering factors. For example, different traumas such as traffic accidents, sexual abuse, war trauma, etc. may vary in the way EMDR is applied.
Special Preparation for Intense Emotions
People with PTSD may feel intense fear, panic or helplessness when they think about the traumatic memory. Before EMDR, the therapist provides emotional safety by teaching the client "safe place exercises", deep breathing techniques and body-oriented relaxation methods.
Specific elaboration of the traumatic memory
In PTSD, the therapist may work by breaking the traumatic memory into small pieces. Especially in the case of very severe traumas, the therapist starts by selecting the most disturbing moment of the event rather than the whole event. For example, the most frightening frame is targeted instead of the entire moment of an accident.
Controlled Approach in EMDR
During EMDR for PTSD, remembering the traumatic memory can be very challenging. For this reason, the therapist follows a much more controlled approach. For example, for people who have difficulty remembering the trauma directly, the "remote viewing technique" is used. In this technique, the person works more safely by imagining the memory on a screen or as if observing it from a distance.
Working with Triggering Situations
In the case of PTSD, the therapist works not only with the traumatic memory, but also with "trigger" factors that occur in everyday life. For example, situations such as not being able to drive after an accident or panicking when hearing a noise are targeted and desensitized during EMDR sessions.
Changing Negative Beliefs
In PTSD, deep negative beliefs (e.g. "I am no longer safe", "I can't trust anyone", "something bad will happen at any moment") are very intense. During EMDR, these beliefs are replaced with more reassuring, control-enhancing and realistic beliefs.
Desensitization of Body Reactions
People with PTSD often experience extreme bodily reactions (such as heart palpitations, sweating, trembling). By specifically targeting body sensations during EMDR, the therapist reduces these bodily reactions.
Support after the session
In cases of PTSD, it is very important to feel safe after the session. The therapist will teach you special relaxation techniques at the end of the session, making it easier for you to cope with the emotional fluctuations after the session.
Scientific research has shown that EMDR treatment is very effective in reducing PTSD symptoms. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA) recommend EMDR as a primary and effective treatment for PTSD. EMDR significantly improves your quality of life by removing trauma memories as triggers.
How Does EMDR Treatment Work?
EMDR therapy works by allowing the brain to reprocess traumatic memories. This therapy method reduces the impact of negative emotions and thoughts that arise after the trauma and helps the person to remember these memories in a more comfortable and neutral way.
EMDR therapy uses bidirectional stimulation (usually eye movements), which enables strong communication between the two hemispheres of the brain. During an EMDR session, the therapist asks you to recall the traumatic memory and simultaneously allows you to follow the therapist's hand or a moving object with your eyes.
Through these movements, the following happens in the brain:
- The brain starts to reprocess the traumatic memory.
- There is a rapid flow of information between the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
- The emotional burden of the traumatic memory is relieved.
EMDR therapy reshapes the neural networks where traumatic memories are stored. Thus:
- Triggering factors related to the memory lose their effect.
- The person's sense of feeling safe increases.
- The "emotional seal" on the traumatic memory is lifted and the brain registers it as a harmless memory of the past.
EMDR treatment is a scientific and effective therapy method that heals your traumatic memories with your brain's own power, reduces emotional burden and shows its effect in a short time.
Which diseases is EMDR used to treat?
Although EMDR therapy was primarily developed for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it has been found to be effective in the treatment of many different psychological problems over time. Today, many specialists successfully apply EMDR for different conditions.
The main psychological problems where EMDR is effective are as follows:
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety Disorders
- Panic Disorder (Panic Attack)
- Depression (especially trauma-induced)
- Phobias (e.g. height, airplane, social phobia)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Grief and Loss Processes
- Sexual Traumas (abuse, harassment)
- Trauma after a Traffic Accident
- Natural Disaster or War Trauma
- Anger Control Problems
- Chronic Pain (especially if of psychological origin)
- Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem Problems
- Performance Anxiety (such as exam, stage, job performance)
- Addictions (substance or behavioral addictions)
EMDR gives fast results in the treatment of these problems and significantly improves the quality of life of the person. The range of problems that can be treated is expanding day by day.
How Long Does EMDR Take?
The duration of EMDR treatment varies from person to person and depending on the type of problem being treated. However, in general, EMDR therapy is a short-term therapy that gives quick results.
An EMDR session lasts between 60 and 90 minutes on average. In some cases, sessions may be longer, but this is usually the standard session duration.
One of the most important advantages of EMDR therapy is that it usually leads to a noticeable improvement in a short period of time. Most clients feel relief and positive change within the first few sessions.
What Does EMDR Therapy Do?
EMDR therapy is used to reduce the emotional burden of traumatic memories and challenging experiences, improve your quality of life and develop healthier ways of thinking.
EMDR therapy provides the following benefits:
- Reduces the impact of traumatic memories.
- Relieves anxiety and stress.
- Controls triggers in daily life.
- Increases self-confidence.
- Eliminates sleep problems.
- Strengthens your emotional resilience.
EMDR therapy prevents traumas, fears and negative thoughts from controlling your life and helps you look to the future with confidence by freeing you from the past.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR therapy works by using special techniques to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories. These techniques are based on bidirectional stimulation (usually right-left eye movements). This activates the brain's natural healing mechanism.
Communication between the two hemispheres of the brain
During EMDR, the therapist asks you to think about the traumatic memory while following your eyes with the therapist's finger or an object moving left and right. These movements establish a strong connection between the right and left hemispheres of your brain. Thus, traumatic memories are reprocessed and their emotional impact on you is reduced.
Reprocessing Traumatic Memories
When traumatic events are not processed correctly in our brains, they create constant fear, anxiety or panic. EMDR activates these stuck memories, allowing them to participate in the brain's natural information processing. As a result, these memories become normal, non-disturbing memories.
Reduced Emotional Burden
EMDR therapy reduces the intense emotions associated with traumatic memories, making them more neutral and controllable. Thus, the person relaxes and gains a healthier perspective on issues related to the past.
Transforming Negative Beliefs
During EMDR, negative beliefs associated with traumatic memories such as "I don't feel safe", "I am guilty", "I am inadequate" are replaced with positive thoughts such as "I am safe", "I am in control", "this is behind me".
Improvement of Body Reactions
Traumatic memories also cause disturbing physical reactions in our bodies (heart palpitations, tremors, nausea, etc.). EMDR processes the equivalent of these physical reactions in the brain, reducing physical tension and providing relief.
EMDR therapy neutralizes traumatic memories by using the brain's own healing power and improves your quality of life by providing emotional and physical relief.