What is EMDR Therapy?
Unlocking the Mind's Puzzle: Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy and the Adaptive Information Processing Model
Imagine memories as puzzle pieces scattered in the brain's attic. The Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, the wizard behind traditional EMDR therapy, steps in to tidy up the chaos. It targets memories that once stormed in, overwhelmed, and never got a proper cleanup. Research unveils that these memories, stored in the brainstem like unsorted data, wreak havoc when unexpectedly summoned. Picture it: raw fragments causing emotional and physical ripples. EMDR, the mastermind with its bilateral wand, works to stitch those memories into a coherent narrative. It's like turning chaos into a story, one that heals and transforms the mind's tangled tapestry.
EMDR therapy is like a guiding light through the shadows of traumatic memories. Picture this: in the late 1980s, Dr. Francine Shapiro stumbled upon a connection between eye movement and persistent upsetting memories, sparking a personal journey into the creation of EMDR therapy. Despite skepticism, her work evolved into a transformative process, proven effective in countless clinical hours worldwide. Recently, public figures like Prince Harry and Sandra Bullock have shared their positive experiences with EMDR, shedding light on its acceptance.
How Long Does EMDR Therapy Take?
A typical EMDR therapy session lasts from 60-90 minutes. It could take one or several sessions to process one traumatic experience. The goal of EMDR therapy is to completely process the traumatic experiences that are causing problems and to include new ones needed for full health. The amount of time it will take to complete EMDR treatment for traumatic experiences will depend upon the client's history. Complete treatment of a single EMDR trauma target involves a three-pronged protocol to alleviate the symptoms and address the complete clinical picture. The three prongs include:
past memories
present disturbance
future actions
Although EMDR therapy may produce results more rapidly than other forms of therapy, speed is not the goal of therapy, and it is essential to remember that every client has different needs. For instance, one client may take weeks to establish sufficient feelings of trust (Phase 2), while another may proceed quickly through the first six phases of treatment only to reveal something even more important that needs treatment.
"Processing" in EMDR Therapy
"Processing" does not mean talking about a traumatic experience. "Processing" means setting up a learning state that will allow experiences causing problems to be "digested" and stored appropriately in your brain. That means that what is useful to you from an experience will be learned and stored with appropriate emotions in your brain and can guide you positively in the future.
The inappropriate emotions, beliefs, and body sensations will be discarded. Negative emotions, feelings, and behaviors are generally caused by unresolved earlier experiences pushing you in the wrong direction. The goal of EMDR therapy is to leave you with the emotions, understanding, and perspectives that will lead to healthy and useful behaviors and interactions (https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/experiencing-emdr-therapy/).
