Understanding EMDR Therapy: A Guide to Healing Trauma
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful psychotherapy approach that has gained recognition for its effectiveness in treating trauma and other distressing life experiences. Developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR is designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories by facilitating the processing of these memories in a way that reduces their lingering psychological impact.
This innovative therapy helps people reprocess traumatic events, enabling them to heal and integrate these experiences into their broader life narrative. EMDR's unique approach has made it a valuable tool in mental health treatment. At Navigator Group, we’ve been successfully incorporating EMDR therapy into our programs for many years.
What is EMDR?
EMDR therapy involves an eight-phase treatment process that integrates elements from various therapeutic approaches. The core concept behind EMDR is that psychological distress is often caused by unresolved traumatic memories that are stored in the brain in a dysfunctional way. These unprocessed memories can lead to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The eight phases of EMDR therapy are outlined below.
History Taking: Your therapist gathers detailed information about your history and identifies target memories for processing.
Preparation: Your therapist explains the EMDR process, ensuring you’re comfortable and equipped with suitable coping mechanisms.
Assessment: Your target memory is assessed, and specific aspects of your memory, such as images, beliefs, and emotions, are identified.
Desensitisation: You focus on the traumatic memory while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements, but sometimes tapping or auditory tones). This phase aims to reduce the emotional intensity of your memory.
Installation: Positive beliefs are strengthened to replace negative beliefs associated with the traumatic memory.
Body Scan: You’re asked to observe your physical response to the memory to identify any residual tension or discomfort.
Closure: Your therapist ensures you feel stable and safe before the session ends.
Reevaluation: Your progress is reviewed, and any remaining issues are addressed in subsequent sessions.
Why is EMDR Helpful?
EMDR is particularly effective for people who have experienced traumatic events. That’s because traditional talk therapy often requires you to verbalise your traumatic experiences, which can be re-traumatising. EMDR, on the other hand, enables you to process traumatic memories without having to discuss them in detail, making it an easier and less intimidating option for many people.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of EMDR in treating PTSD, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. It’s a therapy that helps you reprocess traumatic memories, allowing the reintegration of these memories into your overall life narrative. As a result, the distress associated with these memories is significantly reduced, leading to improved mental health and well-being.
EMDR in Navigator Group Programs
At Navigator Group, we incorporate EMDR into several key programs, recognising its value in supporting people on their journey to mental health recovery. EMDR is a vital component of the Primary Psychological Program (PPP), Navigator Support Program (NSP), and Active Recovery Clinic (ARC).
Primary Psychological Program (PPP)
Navigator Group’s PPP is designed to provide comprehensive psychological support to people dealing with a range of mental health issues. EMDR is used within this program to address trauma-related symptoms, enabling clients to process and overcome their traumatic experiences. Integrating EMDR into the PPP ensures that clients receive evidence-based treatment tailored to their specific needs.
Navigator Support Program (NSP)
Our NSP offers ongoing support to people who require long-term mental health care. EMDR is a tool within this program that may be required to help clients work through traumatic memories and reduce their psychological distress. Incorporating EMDR into the NSP for those who are indicated on a needs basis has enabled us to ensure that clients have access to effective and sustainable treatment options at the right time.
Active Recovery Clinic (ARC)
ARC focuses on providing active and engaging therapeutic interventions for people in recovery. EMDR is a key component of the treatment modalities offered in this program, helping clients to actively process and resolve traumatic memories. The use of EMDR within the ARC highlights our commitment to employing innovative and effective therapies to support clients in their recovery journey.
Embracing EMDR for Effective Trauma Recovery
EMDR is a highly effective therapy for treating trauma and other mental health conditions. Its ability to process traumatic memories without requiring detailed verbal recounting makes it an accessible and valuable option for many of our clients. The Navigator Group's incorporation of EMDR into our Primary Psychological Program, Navigator Support Program, and Active Recovery Clinic underscores our dedication to providing comprehensive, evidence-based mental health care to injured people.
Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2576656/
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3122545/