Education, study and knowledge

The keys to understanding what EMDR therapy consists of

If you have ever heard someone say that he is in EMDR (Eyes Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy and that the "eye movements" are helping him a lot to process and work with what happens to him, you may have wondered what exactly EMDR therapy consists of and how works.

In this brief article I will tell you a little about the scientific bases that support this model of therapy and how eye movements or “bilateral stimulation” are used as a means through which the mind reprocesses traumatic events or situations, of great emotional charge, experienced as disturbing. This reprocessing manages to reduce or eliminate the 'abnormal or extreme' sensitivity to these circumstances (what which is called desensitization), allowing the person to live their life free from the pain and discomfort caused by these.

  • Related article: "The 10 benefits of going to psychological therapy"

What exactly is EMDR therapeutic intervention?

To begin with, it is known that experiencing a circumstance in a negative way or going through a trauma, can affect the way in which information is processed

instagram story viewer
. Thus, the perception of that fact is stored with an important emotional charge, depending on the state that is experienced while living the situation, and that can manifest itself in the form of physical symptoms and/or psychological.

In this way, both the sensory information (images, sounds, tastes, etc.) as well as the thoughts, emotions, sensations and beliefs regarding this situation are stored in memory (physical and psychological) with an intense negative charge and are triggered spontaneously when some present situation activates them, affecting the day to day of the person.

It is precisely in this storage of the traumatic experience where EMDR therapy will have an effect, with the main objective of getting it to experience in a more adaptive way. EMDR therapy is not a simple technique of eye movements following the therapist's hand; to be able to apply the knowledge and have significant benefits certain phases must be followed in the treatment, from knowing the history of the person who consults us to assessing whether this type of therapy is appropriate for the person and what they want to achieve from the treatment.

  • You may be interested: "Types of memory: how does the human brain store memories?"

The parts of the therapeutic process with EMDR

To access the storage of a traumatic experience, the psychotherapist -with the help of the consultant- begins by collect information about your history, define the goals of psychotherapy and establish what are called the 'targets' of treatment.

Past or present memories that have given rise to the problem you are suffering from are explored, as well as whether there is a related initial event in the past; In addition, it tracks what symptoms the person has at a physical and psychological level and if there is any diagnosis. In this way, it identifies what is triggering the problem in the present and also the skills that she can learn to face it in the future.

After this first stage, it is essential that the therapist accompany the person through different exercises to check that they are comfortable for him, that he feels safe and that can start working with bilateral stimulation. This can be done in different ways, such as moving the eyes from side to side horizontally (or diagonally), with light soft strokes of his hands on the legs, alternating one and the other, or on the upper part of the chest (the so-called 'hug of the butterfly).

Through bilateral stimulation, each specified 'target' is worked on. While this is being done and the established protocol is being followed so that the stimulation performs its function at the brain level, the consultants normally explain that they see the memory as more distant, they begin to feel better about the situation, thinking differently about themselves and, therefore, the physical sensations associated with the experience disappear traumatic.

This does not mean that the situation generating discomfort or problem is forgotten.; it is still remembered, but in a more distant way, as belonging to the past and being viewed from a more mature and, therefore, more functional perspective.

It should be noted that, in general, during an EMDR session the therapist does not intervene with words so as not to interfere with the reprocessing that the patient is doing while the stimulation is being performed bilateral. What is essential here is the connection of information within the memory and between the memories that is happening within the consultant and this occurs spontaneously.

  • Related article: "What to expect and what not to expect from psychological therapy"

Concluding...

There is currently no complete answer as to why this type of stimulation helps information reprocessing; research continues to also answer the how. However, EMDR is scientifically endorsed and recognized for the successful treatment of Trauma and trauma (yes, with a capital T and with a small t), including the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In this same way, treatment with EMDR therapy is known to affect different brain areas that seem to have a fundamental role in changing the memory from a more emotional perspective to a more cognitive and integrated one that alleviates the suffering associated with the experience.

If you are going through a bad moment in your life and you want to live a day to day life more in line with what you want, working with circumstances that have passed, but continue to affect you in some way, do not hesitate: contact me. Don't wait any longer to free yourself and live the life you want and deserve.

Art therapy: psychological therapy through art

Art therapy: psychological therapy through art

It may surprise you to know that art is a very effective therapeutic tool for the treatment of pa...

Read more

Good habits and emotional management in times of crisis

In times of crisis, it should not be forgotten that not everything is economics: we must also foc...

Read more

How is EMDR therapy used to treat dissociative disorders?

How is EMDR therapy used to treat dissociative disorders?

Dissociative disorders are part of the most complex and counterintuitive psychopathologies.This i...

Read more