Questions about emdr therapy

I'm very interested in seeking emdr therapy. In emdr do you have to go into details with the therapist about the time that caused you anxiety/depression/hostility etc. or can you just tell them "this person hurt me" or "something this person did to me" I hope I'm making myself clear enough. I have read that emdr does not help you to forget but to digest thoughts to maybe lesson the problems that their causing.

Any comments will be helpful.

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Hi , I've had EMDR , PM me if you like.

I am doing EMDR. T asks me to identify a target memory. We start with the last week-did anything trigger me? If so, then we start with that event. T has me describe the event and then I let my mind wander. T stops and asks me what I am noticing pretty frequently and sometimes I am having thoughts that I'd rather not share but I usually do anyway.

If there is no recent trigger then we start with a memory that has emotional effect on me-but I pick the memory.

So there is a whole lot less dredging up stuff than in psychodynamic therapy, and I don't have to struggle to remember things I don't want to, or talk in circles around things ...

And we stop when I get to a point where there is a positive thought that floats up. So I usually leave feeling better.

And it does help put things to rest. I like it. And t also has worked with me on "installing" things such as feeling safe, having fortitude, acceptance.

I'd definitely encourage you to give it a try.

But you have to describe in detail what the thought is?

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No. Just say what it is, and she always asks "Are you ok to go with that?". I figure that I might as well go ahead because that lets my brain sort things out. I did ask what happened if I wasn't ok with going with that, and she said we'd just go to safe place.

As an example, last session my mind wandered to a time when my mother shamed me. Didn't like the memory, but when she asked I told her just that-thinking about a time when my mother shamed me. And we went on, and that thought passed. And eventually I ended up with "Do what I can do". A positive take on things, I thought, instead of all those triggering and intrusive thoughts. So we stopped there.

No, you do NOT have to go into details at all! This aspect is one reason why EMDR therapy is so successful with Veterans who don't want to or can't actually speak about their traumas. You are correct as far as memory of the trauma: you won't forget, per se, but the memory won't be "stuck in your throat" or in your body: it will fade in every way and no longer cause current problems!

As a recently retired psychologist, I used 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 (now retired) role as a facilitator who trained 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.

One of the initial EMDR therapy phases (Phase 2) involves preparing for memory processing or desensitization (memory processing or desensitization - phases 3-6 - is often what is referred to as "EMDR" which is actually an 8-phase method of psychotherapy). In this phase resources are "front-loaded" so that you have a "floor" or "container" to help with processing the really hard stuff, as well as creating strategies if you're triggered in everyday life. In Phase 2 you learn a lot of great coping strategies and self-soothing techniques which you can use during EMDR processing or anytime you feel the need.

In phase 2 you learn how to access a “Safe or Calm Place” which you can use at ANY TIME during EMDR processing (or on your own) if it feels scary, or too emotional, too intense. One of the key assets of EMDR therapy is that YOU, the client, are in control NOW, even though you weren’t in the past, during traumatic events, or whatever disturbance(s) on which you’re working. You NEVER need re-live an experience or go into great detail, ever! You NEVER need to go through the entire memory. YOU can decide to keep the lights (or the alternating sounds and/or tactile pulsars, or the waving hand, or any method of bilateral stimulation that feels okay to you) going, or stop them, whichever helps titrate – measure and adjust the balance or “dose“ of the processing. During EMDR processing there are regular “breaks” and you can control when and how many but the therapist should be stopping the bilateral stimulation every 25-50 passes of the lights to ask you to take a deep breath and say just a bit of what you’re noticing, anything different, any changes. (The stimulation should not be kept on continuously, because there are specific procedures that need to be followed to process the memory). The breaks help keep a “foot in the present” while you’re processing the past. Again, and I can’t say this enough, YOU ARE IN CHARGE so YOU can make the process tolerable. And your therapist should be experienced in the EMDR therapy techniques that help make it the gentlest and safest way to detoxify bad life experiences and build resources.

Grounding exercises are essential. You can use some of the techniques in Dr. Shapiro's new book "Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR." Dr. Shapiro is the founder/creator of EMDR but all the proceeds from the book go to two charities: the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program and the EMDR Research Foundation). The book is an easy read, helps you understand what's "pushing" your feelings and behavior, helps you connect the dots from past experiences to current life. Also gives lots of really helpful ways that are used during EMDR therapy to calm disturbing thoughts and feelings.

Pacing and dosing are critically important. So if you ever feel that EMDR processing is too intense then it might be time to go back over all the resources that should be used both IN session and BETWEEN sessions.

As a recently retired psychologist, I used 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 (now retired) role as a facilitator who trained 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.

I can't say enough good things about EMDR therapy. It's changed my life both as a person/consumer, and as a therapist. It has been so satisfying to have someone come in for help and then to witness them get through their issues and finish therapy relatively quickly (compared to regular talk therapy, it's like night and day). I am both humbled by and grateful for this wonderful method that heals suffering.

I just went to see my t on Tuesday instead of doing emdr I just talked about the thought that was bothering me. It felt good to get it off my chest but I wanted to say that we talked about emdr and you do have to go into detail about the thought that is bothering you. My T read to me the exercise or the steps about this therapy. I made mention about military people that can't go into detail about the things they have done and she somewhat agreed with me.



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I don't always entirely agree with other posters on this forum regarding EMDR. From my own experience , I was always OK to talk about the images that came up.

I toto have always been able to talk about whatever it is that has come up. But I don't have to, and I can simply raise my hand at any time and stop things. And we always end with "safe place" so I leave in a decnet frame of mind.

This is similar to exposure therapy in that by talking and getting the trauma out there, you are desensitized to it. Not everyone w/ PTSD needs EMDR per se; some individuals respond just fine to talk therapy.

Yeah but you still have to say something about what's going on in your head. Not arguing just saying.

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It's interesting that you asked this question because my therapist JUST reassured me in an e-mail that EMDR can be done without speaking about a traumatic memory out loud. In my situation, just thinking about the traumatic memory in my head makes me want to vomit so it seems impossible to say it out loud. He reassured me that EMDR can get me to a place where I CAN speak about it). I haven't personally done it that way yet, but he says it can be done, and I trust him.

My T also says I don't have to say anything out loud except a distress rating of what's in my head but I don't have to tell her the images or details or even say anything if I don't want to or can't.

As noted in the American Psychiatric Association Practice Guidelines (2004, p.18), in EMDR “traumatic material need not be verbalized; instead, patients are directed to think about their traumatic experiences without having to discuss them.” This is why it's so successful with combat vets or ANYONE who doesn't want to verbalize.

One of the initial EMDR therapy phases (Phase 2) involves preparing for memory processing or desensitization (memory processing or desensitization - phases 3-6 - is often what is referred to as "EMDR" which is actually an 8-phase method of psychotherapy). In this phase resources are "front-loaded" so that you have a "floor" or "container" to help with processing the really hard stuff, as well as creating strategies if you're triggered in everyday life. In Phase 2 you learn a lot of great coping strategies and self-soothing techniques which you can use during EMDR processing or anytime you feel the need.

In phase 2 you learn how to access a “Safe or Calm Place” which you can use at ANY TIME during EMDR processing (or on your own) if it feels scary, or too emotional, too intense. One of the key assets of EMDR therapy is that YOU, the client, are in control NOW, even though you weren’t in the past, during traumatic events, or whatever disturbance(s) on which you’re working. You NEVER need re-live an experience or go into great detail, ever! You NEVER need to go through the entire memory. YOU can decide to keep the lights (or the alternating sounds and/or tactile pulsars, or the waving hand, or any method of bilateral stimulation that feels okay to you) going, or stop them, whichever helps titrate – measure and adjust the balance or “dose“ of the processing. During EMDR processing there are regular “breaks” and you can control when and how many but the therapist should be stopping the bilateral stimulation every 25-50 passes of the lights to ask you to take a deep breath and say just a bit of what you’re noticing, anything different, any changes. (The stimulation should not be kept on continuously, because there are specific procedures that need to be followed to process the memory). The breaks help keep a “foot in the present” while you’re processing the past. Again, and I can’t say this enough, YOU ARE IN CHARGE so YOU can make the process tolerable. And your therapist should be experienced in the EMDR therapy techniques that help make it the gentlest and safest way to detoxify bad life experiences and build resources.

Grounding exercises are essential. You can use some of the techniques in Dr. Shapiro's new book "Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR." Dr. Shapiro is the founder/creator of EMDR but all the proceeds from the book go to two charities: the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program and the EMDR Research Foundation). The book is an easy read, helps you understand what's "pushing" your feelings and behavior, helps you connect the dots from past experiences to current life. Also gives lots of really helpful ways that are used during EMDR therapy to calm disturbing thoughts and feelings.

Pacing and dosing are critically important. So if you ever feel that EMDR processing is too intense then it might be time to go back over all the resources that should be used both IN session and BETWEEN sessions.

As a recently retired psychologist, I used 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 (now retired) role as a facilitator who trained 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.

Maybe my therapist just doesn't like using emdr

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Is your T an EMDR T? Perhaps consult another EMDR T if not. You do seem interested in this method.

EMDR T's are certified and have regular training. Perhaps your T isn't an official EMDR T? I don't know why a T would be certified and "offer" it if they don't like to use it?

I don't know either.

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When I did EMDR I didn't have to verbalize the trauma, I just was told to visualize it, tell her a rating, and told to visualize the happy place or whatever... I was asked a lot about what I "noticed" in the memory but that didn't require arduous descriptions, it could be as simple as "it smells like smoke" or whatever.

It didn't work for me because personally, I think I DO need to verablize the horribleness to someone to get it off my chest and out of my head.

I did EMDR with my therapist for a bit. I was a bit scared beforehand, mainly because I had to sign a consent form for it that basically says I know that I might be triggered and caused more stress and anxiety by this...but it really wasn't scary, and I found it to be helpful. We started focusing on the trauma, but then I would just let my mind wander and we'd talk about where it went etc.