EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a specific therapy aimed at people who permanently suffer from the consequences of shocking experiences, such as accidents, sexual violence or violent incidents. This method was first described more than 25 years ago by the American psychologist Francine Shapiro. Over the years, EMDR has been further developed into a fully-fledged and effective therapeutic approach.
During EMDR treatment, the underlying causes that led to the complaints are first investigated. These causes are then tackled one by one in a safe manner, using eye movements. What makes EMDR unique is that it involves not only your thoughts, but also your feelings and body in the solution. It is a fast and efficient therapy, where the effects continue after the treatment without the client having to do additional homework exercises.
In short, EMDR helps you to process negative experiences from the past and reduce complaints.
HOW DOES EMDR WORK?
The therapist will ask you to think back to the event, including the associated images, thoughts and feelings. First this is done to collect more information about the traumatic experience. The processing process is then started.
The therapist will ask you to recall the event, but this time this is done in combination with a distracting stimulus. In many cases this is the therapist’s hand and possibly sounds that are presented alternately left and right through headphones. We work with ‘sets’ (= series) of stimuli.
HOW DOES EMDR WORK?
After each set you take a short rest. The therapist will ask the client what comes to mind.
The EMDR procedure usually triggers a flow of thoughts and images, but sometimes also feelings and physical sensations. Things often change. After each set, the client is asked to focus on the most noticeable change, after which a new set follows.
HOW DO I DETERMINE WHETHER EMDR CAN BE USED?
At the start of EMDR therapy, extensive attention is paid to the cause and background of your complaints. In addition, an assessment is made of a number of individual characteristics, such as your personal capacity and the extent to which you are bothered by the complaints. Based on this, it is determined whether targeted trauma treatment is necessary at that moment and whether EMDR can be used for this.
WHAT PREPARATIONS ARE NEEDED?
EMDR is a therapy that often works quickly, but can also be intensive. That is why the therapist will not only explain what he is going to do and why, but also discuss in detail how you can keep your emotions under control as best as possible.
WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED EFFECTS?
Over time, the sets will cause the memory to lose its power and emotional charge. So it becomes easier and easier to think back to the original event. In many cases, the memory images themselves also change and become blurrier or smaller, for example. But it may also be that less unpleasant aspects of the same situation emerge. Another possibility is that new thoughts or insights spontaneously arise that give a different, less threatening, meaning to the event. These effects contribute to the shocking experience increasingly becoming part of your life history.