What is EMDR Therapy?

"Whoa. This is some strong voodoo."

EMDR bilateral stimulation (BLS) demonstrated by Delta

That's what I told the therapist the first time I brought up a memory and followed her fingers like a haunted portrait. EMDR draws from all the major therapy modalities dating back to Freud. It is robustly researched, efficient, and often a profound experience. Here’s a quick rundown on how it works.

The calls are coming from inside the house.

Each night, during REM sleep, the brain sorts through the day. The good stuff, what we’ll need later, goes to the top (the cerebral cortex) where we can access it readily. Humans also evolved to remember threats and warn us of future danger. These emotionally charged memories store differently than the rest. They can fester in the subconscious, indefinitely, like buried shrapnel. 

These traumas, big and small, get red-flagged in the lower limbic brain. This vault locks in the distressing details: sights, sounds, emotions, and beliefs ("I'm powerless; it’s my fault") stay stuck. We try to move on, to talk it out even, but like hot wires they get tripped, and ZAP! We flash back to our personal Vietnam. Perhaps only a piece of the memory flashes back. Maybe just a vague cloud of anxiety or depression associated with an 8th grade bully we forgot about. Whether we realize it or not, the past guides our path- at times to our detriment.

Lemonade

Similar to REM sleep, EMDR and other somatic therapies tap into the emotional brain in ways typical talk therapy cannot. The eye movements (or hand-held pulsers/headphone beeps) and other features help harmonize painful past experiences amongst the upper and lower brain areas. We now notice the trigger and think, “that was rough, but I survived it like a boss, and I’ll get through this too.” While the memories live on, they lose the power to haunt and control us.

Re-experiencing unresolved issues can feel intense, yet the catharsis justifies the journey. And, relative to one’s level of trauma, studies show brisk and lasting results. Uncovered repressed memories can emerge, including joyful ones. And, regardless of what comes up, the brain loves a happy ending. Frequently, clients follow processing of heavy experiences with laughter and a sigh of relief. There’s so much more, such as EMDR’s process for “installing” positive resources, which I’ll cover in future posts. In the meantime, feel free to ask any questions below.