EMDR Therapy
Treatment for Traumatic Experiences using EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy is a method that combines talk therapy, standardized protocols, and physical stimuli.
In EMDR therapy, we focus on traumas, which are defined as experiences embedded in the mind and body. These traumas can lead to symptoms such as unpleasant feelings, physical sensations, negative thoughts, and maladaptive behavioral patterns in the present. This occurs because the traumas have exceeded the mind’s natural ability to process and understand them. Due to primitive functions in the brainstem, traumatic experiences can put the body on high alert, making it difficult to act appropriately in situations that resemble past traumas.
How EMDR Therapy Works
Do you know what EMDR therapy is? You may have noticed that people sleeping move their eyes under closed eyelids. Normally, we process everyday experiences through dreams and REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. However, when exposed to trauma, this natural process can be inhibited, resulting in experiences being stored in a raw, unprocessed form in the mind, body, and emotions. This can lead to recurring nightmares and flashbacks, as seen in individuals with PTSD.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This means that experiences that have been locked in a traumatic state in the mind or body can be released (desensitized) and reprocessed using physical stimuli. The result is that these experiences are perceived as less stressful and unpleasant after treatment.
During the EMDR session, the therapist activates the trauma and applies alternating stimuli to both sides of the body, for example, through eye movements, tapping, sounds, or other methods. This process helps reduce discomfort and stress associated with the traumas. Although you can still remember the event, the discomfort associated with it will diminish or completely disappear, allowing you to react more positively in the future.
With EMDR therapy, past events are stored correctly as memories, meaning they no longer activate current experiences. In this way, the past remains in the past, and the present is open, allowing you to live a life more in line with your wishes and goals.
Approved and Recommended by WHO
EMDR therapy is recognized and recommended by WHO as a treatment for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). It is an evidence-based psychotherapy specifically developed to address PTSD, and it has also proven highly effective for a wide range of other psychological and physical challenges. This includes acute traumas related to assault, violence, rape, loss, accidents, war, and terror, as well as problems with anxiety, phobias, grief, anger management, and low self-esteem in adults, adolescents, and children.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an evidence-based treatment method that helps individuals process trauma and stressful life experiences. It is one of the most recognized and effective forms of therapy for treating PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) as well as other trauma-related disorders.
In EMDR therapy, one works directly with the trauma by having the client follow the therapist’s eye movements. The therapist introduces short breaks in the treatment to monitor the feelings and thoughts the client is processing. This process helps the client integrate the trauma in a healthy way, enabling a better forward-looking life path.
For many people who have experienced trauma, EMDR therapy can be a life-changing treatment, and it has proven to be highly effective in many cases. If you or someone you know has been exposed to trauma and needs help moving forward, considering EMDR therapy as an option may be a good idea.
Want to know more?
Read more about EMDR in the information brochure from EMDR Denmark here.
