Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) was first developed in the 1980s by Francine Shapiro as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Shapiro’s initial ideas were based on the accelerated information processing model – the idea that our neural memory networks contain feelings, thoughts and emotions. If we experience trauma but don’t fully process it, we run the risk that these feelings will return later as if we are still experiencing the event.
EMDR meets the clinical gold standard for effectiveness – it’s been shown to be effective in over thirty peer-reviewed studies and has been used in a huge range of fields, from childhood trauma and neglect to anxiety and substance use.
How Does EMDR Work?
Going back over traumatic events can be traumatic in itself. We run the risk of reliving the event as if it was happening in front of us, and this doesn’t help us to process it and get closure.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation to help us recall our traumatic past while reducing the emotional impact it has on us. It helps us reframe our emotions and thoughts surrounding the event without going into it in detail.
Bilateral stimulation is any stimulus that happens rhythmically in a left-right pattern. It could be visual, auditory, or tactile. For example, it could be listening to tones in headphones that alternate between right or left, a dot appearing on different sides of a screen, or gentle tapping on alternate hands.
It’s thought that this bilateral stimulation prevents our brains from fully reliving past events and perpetuating the trauma cycle while allowing brains to engage their innate healing capacity and process the event.
EMDR therapy aims to completely process the problematic past experiences and address the lasting symptoms of trauma. It focuses on:
- Past memories
- Present disturbance
- Future actions
How Does EMDR Work Through Video?
In-person, this bilateral stimulation can take place on a lightbar, via headphones, or by gentle taps with the therapist controlling it. The recent COVID-19 pandemic forced the entire world to embrace digital communication, and mental health treatment was no different.
EMDR treatment happens in eight phases:
- History and treatment planning
- Preparation
- Assessment
- Desensitisation
- Installation
- Body scan
- Closure
- Re-evaluation
Only phase 4 requires bilateral stimulation – the others focus on conversations with your therapist. These take place as a regular video call would. When it is time for phase 4, there are many different approaches your therapist can take.
Our therapists are expert communicators, and they’ll offer a variety of options to choose from so you can work out the best one for you. You being relaxed is the most important thing to us, so we need to find out what makes you most comfortable. This could include:
- Having your eyes guided back and forth between the corners of the room, you’re sitting in.
- Displaying an EMDR light bar on their video – this provides visual stimulation with a flow of lights from one side to the other.
- Auditory bilateral stimulation delivered through headphones – you’ll hear sounds in alternating ears.
- Butterfly hug – this is a type of hand tapping, where you cross your arms over your heart and tap your shoulders in a certain way. This can be especially grounding for some people.
Before we begin any treatment, we’ll ask you to find an environment you feel relaxed in. It can dilute the therapeutic experience if we feel unsafe or if we’re worrying someone might be listening in.
At Vitalis Wellbeing, we deliver all of our services via video call. We work on a flexible schedule, and we can deliver sessions at the best possible time for you. This enables us to pair you with the most qualified therapist for your specific needs – you don’t have to have your treatment constrained by geography.
