Recovery from Trauma is Possible with Online EMDR

What do we mean by “Eye Movement” or “Desensitization and Reprocessing”?

EMDR utilizes what is called dual-attention-stimulation, also sometimes called bilateral-stimulation (BLS) to stimulate the body’s nervous system to help it become unstuck from prior patterns of response and to make new, healed connections and patterns.

These old patterns of responses include our mental health symptoms like flashbacks, anxiety, and fear, as well as, reactions to other’s around us like communicating in a relationship or with an authority figure. When the body responds to a past trauma as if it is occurring right now, it means it can become overpowered by strong feelings and sensations when it is unnecessary, find general bodily and emotional regulation difficult, and feel disempowered to effectively respond to a real threat that may be occurring. For example setting a healthy boundary with a person who is mistreating you might be overwhelming, or performing in front of a large crowd with confidence may not be possible.

Healing from these past memories and life events, and then reducing the disturbance of current triggers and stressors means the body can rest and the mind can access the most logical and rational parts of itself to respond in protective and effective ways to current life events. It also means breaking the snow ball effect of negative self-beliefs that can significantly impact our self-esteem or confidence.

We do this by accessing life events or memories, activating the disturbing and bothersome parts of those events or memories, and then adding distractions to the nervous system through dual-attention stimulation, which includes moving your eyes in a certain pattern by following a dot on the screen, tapping your body in an alternating pattern on shoulders or legs, or listening to various sounds through headphones. Sometimes additional stimulation is used which includes naming colors, counting, or adding music.

1. History & Treatment Planning

• Review your history; timeline of symptoms and events; outline your specific goals and needs, and work with the counselor to create an EMDR “target” (life event or memory) plan

2. Preparation

• Learn about the process in detail; review your current coping skills with the counselor; participate in EMDR resourcing exercises to utilize between, during, and after sessions

3. Assessment

• Focus on the selected “target” (life event or memory) to access and activate; identify associated negative self-beliefs, and use EMDR scale to measure your level of disturbance from 0 to 10

4. Desensitization

• Participate in dual-attention-stimulation, ie. eye movements, tapping, or sounds, while thinking of the assessed target in order to reduce the disturbance of the “target” (life event or memory), eliminate any vivid and intrusive imagery, reduce its relationship with negative self-beliefs, and support the nervous system in understanding an event is over

5. Installation

• Strengthen a positive self-belief that you’d rather believe instead of the negative self-belief associated with the “target” (life event or memory)

6. Body Scan

• Hold the positive self-belief and “target” (life event or memory) together while mindfully scanning down your body to find any remaining tension, discomfort, or pain triggered by the “target” and then participate in more desensitization if indicated

7. Closure

• Debrief either the completely processed “target” (life event or memory) that is now neutral and not disturbing; or the reprocessing experience of an incomplete “target” to feel grounded and safe before ending the session

8. Reevaluation

• At the start of your next session, review any experiences that occurred between sessions, start the Assessment of the next “target” from your plan or Re-Assess the incomplete target from the last session to continue working on