If we have ever interacted, you have probably heard me talk about EMDR excitedly at least one time. EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, is an evidenced-based trauma focused therapy. It also happens to be my greatest passion, and most useful tool for any client!

So, what is EMDR, and why do I think it can benefit EVERYONE?

EMDR is a process that activates the brain’s natural healing process to address improperly stored memories. You know a memory is improperly stored if you think about it or are reminded of it, and have a physiological response (heart beats faster, sweating, shaking, stomach ache, or feeling sad, nervous, and/or angry).

If you’ve ever heard of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the process is similar. When we enter REM sleep, our eyes move back and forth rapidly. This activates a process in the brain that files our memories from the previous day away nicely. So, when I wake up the next day and think about what I had for breakfast the prior day, I can remember I ate an omelette without any sort of activation of stress response. However, when we experience trauma, these memories are often times not stored properly. If I had a car accident last week, I may walk to my car today and trigger the improperly stored memory, causing my heart to race, my stomach to turn, my breath to quicken, and a feeling of dread to wash over me.

EMDR uses this same natural brain organization mechanism by activating a trauma memory, and having a trained therapist assist in recreating the REM movements while awake. The therapist tracks the movement of information with verbal cues from the client throughout the process, and can redirect as needed to make sure the memory is completely properly filed. The therapist is trained to keep the person in the present moment while also activating the past memory simultaneously. This delicate dance between memory and present moment allows the brain to activate its healing mechanism during waking hours and assists in filing memories that may have been improperly stored for an individuals entire life.

In a successful EMDR session, a person might have a memory that causes them a 10/10 on the distress scale, and a negative associated cognition such as “I am bad” or “I am not safe.” By the end of that session, that person will ultimately be able to remember the memory, but will have a subjective distress rating of 0/10 and will honestly be able to report and believe the positive cognition of “I am good,” and/or “I am safe.”

I have seen clients make immense amounts of progress in a very short duration of time. I had one month before moving out of state to work with a woman who agreed to 2x/week hour sessions, and in those 4 weeks we successfully reprocessed and worked through over 40 years of complex trauma. I cannot begin to explain how long that process could have gone on with traditional talk therapy or trauma-focused cognitive behavioral techniques.

The best part of EMDR is it can help ANYONE. You do not have to have “big T Trauma” to benefit; you only need to have a memory that activates distress. If that happens to be the time you were 6 and spilled your juice on your shirt in front of your crush and thinking of it now still causes you to blush and your heart to race, that’s just as much a target for EMDR as an accident.

We all have trauma. It’s a part of living, learning, and growing. We cannot undo what has happened in the past, but we absolutely have the power to ensure it does not have a hold over us in the present.

If you’re interested in EMDR therapy, I would love to have a phone or in-person consultation with you. EMDR sessions must be done in person, however. Give me a call or email me, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Kristina Hoff, LCSW

704-965-1172

KHoffLCSW@gmail.com