[GloWurm]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post. So the subject pretty much sums up my question. I've had a few sessions with a new therapist trained in EMDR. We have only actually used bilateral stimulation during less than half of these sessions via physical tapping and also via her TheraTapper device which works through physical vibrations.

I am trying to stay opened-minded and realistic about the process, but one thing that is nagging at me is the fact that this therapist has yet to integrate actual eye movements as part of the processing. I understand that bilateral stimulation can be achieved via touch or sound, but I was under the impression that those methods are generally reserved for situations where eye movement is impractical, such as when the patient is visually impaired.

Can anyone trained in EMDR or with more knowledge about EMDR than I speak to this? From what I read on the EMDR Institute website, it sounds like the eye movements may be significant, while not critical, to the efficacy of treatment. Thanks in advance.

[Ruftin]

(((GloWurm))) Have you asked your T about this? Tell her what you've read and find out why she isn't using eye movements. She might have a logical explanation for you or have plans to use it in upcoming therapies. Best wishes!!!

[ladisputelover]

I'm in EMDR and we don't do any eye movement things, so maybe it just depends on the t you're working with????

[Bluegrey]

I find the tappers much easier to follow than something to watch. I believe it's a standard technique.

I've also noticed that sometimes while doing the bilateral stimulation my eyes have been moving rapidly even while shut - my T says it's not uncommon.

It's probably a good idea to talk about this with your T though, as others have said. It's really important to have trust in them and that would be hard if you're worrying about it.


Bluegrey

[ThisWayOut]

I guess a pertinent question would be: do you feel it's effective so far? I felt a difference very shortly after the first session (at least with the incidents we processed in that session). It's was pretty much immediate within the next day or two.
My T did the bilateral stimulation too. She said she could do the eye movement, but prefered the others because the arm movements were physically taxing for her. She said that she found all of the techniques equally effective.
Definitely something to ask your T however, if you want to know her reasoning behind it.
I'm more surprised you guys jumped into the acual EMDR so quickly. To my understanding (and in my experience), there's a large part of beginning EMDR that requires establishing safety and a "safe place" along with coping skills and trust in the T before moving on to the actual trauma processing. I know my T refused to start EMDR with me until I was more stable, and we had established a "safety protocol" in dealing with anything brought up by the EMDR. She had mentioned it in the first session, but it took over 2 years before we actively started the EMDR (the first 1.5 years I was not stable at all, so she refused to start it)...

[GloWurm]

Thanks for the replies everyone. My T actually mentioned in passing about some EMDR practitioners preferring not to use eye movements due to the arm strain, so I suspect that she might have been referring to herself as well. That's fine, as long as the tapping turns out to be effective. I am not noticing any discernible results yet, but I'm seeing her for a very early trauma, so I know that usually takes longer to process and I'm guessing she's easing me into it.

I appreciate that everyone has urged me to simply ask her about it. I will try to do that sooner rather than later, but I guess I'm anxious about it, about embarrassing her or something. It's taken me so long to find a therapist, I guess I'm scared of anything messing things up.