Clients who come in for therapy are seeking some type of change. It is important that they, along with their therapist, identify goals and define the changes they want to make. This clarifies the purpose for the client’s investment of time and resources, and sets a measure for progress. Change becomes habit when clients practice strategies outside of sessions.
One of the most widely utilized, evidence-based approaches to psychotherapy is cognitive behavioral therapy. With CBT, clients are encouraged to change their thoughts, in order to change their feelings, in order to change their behavior. While foundational to most therapeutic approaches, there are limitations.
Negative thought processes often occur simultaneously with emotional distress. This physical and emotional reaction frequently blocks motivated clients from implementing the planned strategies and making the desired changes. Clients who experience this ‘emotional hijack’ often feel a greater sense of failure.
Traumatic and disturbing life experiences get linked in the brain with their original thoughts, feelings, images, and body sensations. The response toward those events was a natural response at the time of the event. It was an attempt to adapt to a difficult situation. People become stuck because of how disturbing life experiences are linked to their nervous system. Once this information is accessed and reprocessed, the adaptive information system is relinked, and a more positive and empowering understanding of the present can surface.
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, EMDR, is a “body-first approach” to therapy as opposed to the “brain-first approach”, found in CBT. Clients increase their awareness of bodily sensations, and identify emotions and the negative beliefs that support those emotions. EMDR uses a set of procedures to organize negative and positive feelings, emotions, and thoughts, and then uses bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, as the way to help the body and brain effectively work through disturbing memories.
The EMDR approach believes past emotionally-charged experiences are overly influencing present emotions, sensations, and thoughts, such as someone who feels worthless despite knowing they are a worthwhile person. EMDR processing helps break through emotional blocks that interfere with living an adaptive, emotionally healthy life.
EMDR therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. Ongoing research supports positive clinical outcomes, showing EMDR therapy as a helpful treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences. For more information on EMDR, visit www.emdria.org
Jennifer Collins, LMHC at bethink is an EMDR therapist who not only utilizes these techniques every day with her clients, but also participates in on-going training. Visit www.bethinkhealth.com to learn more.