Quote:
Originally Posted by pattijane
I'm a psychologist who uses EMDR therapy as my primary psychotherapy treatment and I've also personally had EMDR therapy for anxiety, panic, grief, and “small t” trauma. As a client, EMDR worked extremely well and also really fast. As an EMDR therapist, and in my role as a facilitator who trains other therapists in EMDR therapy (certified by the EMDR International Association and trained by the EMDR Institute, both of which I strongly recommend in an EMDR therapist) I have used EMDR therapy successfully with panic disorders, PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, body image, phobias, distressing memories, bad dreams, and many other problems. It's a very gentle method with no significant "down-side" so that in the hands of a professional EMDR therapist, there should be no freak-outs or worsening of day-to-day functioning. EMDR therapy has a ton of excellent research behind it validating its efficacy.
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In addition to my therapy practice, I roam the web looking for EMDR therapy discussions, try to answer questions about it posted by clients/patients, and respond to the critics out there. It's not a cure-all therapy, however, it really is an extraordinary psychotherapy and its results last. In the hands of a really experienced EMDR therapist, it's the most gentle way of working through disturbing experiences.
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I am saying this with huge respect, even if it may sound differently.
A lot of times when I read something about EMDR here, I read the same long response from you, like a copy paste type of thing. I appreciate that you take the time to take part in a discussion, especially because you are using EMDR in your practice and I personally would value a real opinion. But somehow you are not really taking part except act as an advocate for EMDR.
It does seem strange that the answer to someone's individual question is always the same long explanation about what EMDR is and how great it is.
I would be much more interested in how it can effect people negatively even with a highly trained EMDR therapist.
My very own experience is, that it has been damaging to me in a lot of ways. I have years of repeated trauma and EMDR actually re-traumatized me. It made me feel incredibly anxious, it caused a lot more flashbacks and dissociation. It shook me for days after a session. It was not gentle, for me it was incredibly painful and stressful. I could never return to my "safe place" sometimes I got painfully stuck in a memory. I got really sick a few times after EMDR session, I snapped a few times which I never ever did before. I cried for days and days and sometimes when I opened my eyes after a flashback everything was blurry, it felt like my brain was trying to rearrange the world around me. I had to terminate the therapy and subsequently the therapist. I am still working through the aftermath with my new therapist who is an EMDR therapist as well but would not do EMDR with me because I have multiple traumas.
I am sure however that it might work for many other people - but there are definitely a lot where it does more harm than good. I am not qualified to state who is in danger of the negative effects of EMDR. It has been said many times how EMDR can be bad for people with multiple traumas. But my EMDR T never explained that to me.
On webpages that explain or advocate EMDR some state bluntly that "EMDR has no negative side effects." I know that is not true.
On the more reliable webpages though it states : EMDR appears to be without side effects." "...Is said to be without side effects" "
In essence I think EMDR is exposure therapy veiled in a "safe" cloth. It can help, but it also can be very unhelpful and, as in my case, even extremely damaging.
On webmd.com it says: "Although research continues, EMDR remains controversial among some health care professionals."
I think it needs a lot more research to be absolute and definitely a lot more evidence to claim it's the ONLY method that effectively treats trauma.