Does Anyone Have Experience Of EMDR?

[Shelley_S]

Having a highly trained therapist is essential.

There are two main reasons.

1) Success is much more likely if EMDR is done by someone who has training and a lot of experience, and thus knows how best to set up the most productive EMDR sessions. This is very important, as someone who lacks this training may have no idea of how and when to employ the technique, no matter how simple the technique itself is. Also, important issues can arise as a result of successful EMDR sessions, and a good therapist will have a much better idea of what to do about the issues.

2) EMDR can re-traumatize the patient (exacerbate the trauma), by producing a traumatic experience that reprises the original one. Significant re-traumatization has the potential to cause serious deterioration of the patient's emotional health, possibly leading to suicide or violence. A trained therapist is more likely to avoid serious re-traumatization, and better able to deal with it if it comes up, than someone who lacks experience in the field.

Best of luck.

Shelley

 

[anthony]

I agree with point one, I partially agree with point two. No therapy, regardless qualifications, can change the outcome of retraumatization during therapy, because it doesn't matter how you attack the cause, the person must bring up the trauma, whether through spoken word or imaginal within their mind... Plenty of people have walked out of the best therapists offices, jumped in their car and committed suicide, or done so a day or two later, when it is expected and perfectly normal, that the symptoms will heighten and peak after the session, especially within the early sessions of trauma therapy. The early sessions are always the worst, and if you get the person past those, then its all smooth sailing pretty much from then.

Trauma types also affect therapy outcome, ie. a single traumatic event is far more likely to be corrected via trauma counselling than more complex / combat based traumas. This is fact, well recognised, studied and documented within mental health doctrine, and current.

The best EMDR practitioner is still likely to have patients that the treatment either didn't work on, they made the patient worse vs. better, and patients have also committed suicide / attempted, after the session ending, without any real knowing to them.

Point one, I could not agree with more so though... as it is what reduces your chances of something going wrong, though does not preclude such things still happening, because they do, and it is very much often trauma severity that plays that key role. Even the best EMDR practitioners in the world, Shapiro herself, have failed often in trying to treat complex and combat trauma, patients walking away early during the worst sessions, because the heightened symptoms simply are too much for them to comprehend the logic, short term pain for long term gain.

Some people need sympathy, some empathy, some Christian beliefs, some another religious belief, some require a no bullshit method, etc... there are a myriad of ways to achieve things, though individualism is key to interpretation of the therapist and treatment outcome from my knowledge.

 

[Shelley_S]

Thank you for your insights Anthony. I suppose what it comes down to is how committed the therapist is to providing out-of-session monitoring and support for their clients and how willing the clients are to reach out for that support when they become overwhelmed by their traumatic memories following a session. A trained therapist is more likely to provide effective intervention in such cases than one who lacks experience.

Trauma types also affect therapy outcome, ie. a single traumatic event is far more likely to be corrected via trauma counselling than more complex / combat based traumas. This is fact, well recognised, studied and documented within mental health doctrine, and current.

I think this is partly due to the fact that more research has been aimed at simple PTSD, which has led to more optimal treatment strategies being developed for that population.

If anyone is interested, Deborah Korn (Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 2009) has written a fascinating review of EMDR and the Treatment of Complex PTSD (link here), including her recommendations for future research.

 

[southernfire]

I have not had good experiences with EMDR. I began it with a therapist and within a month of starting I held a gun to my head for the first time in my life. I ended up having to leave that therapist as the EMDR was making things significantly worse. Everything became a trigger, and still is. I have multiple traumas and am just learning EMDR may be contraindicated for this. I went to a secon therapist and was very up front and clear about my fear and worsening of symptoms from the EMDR. She tried a different approach and even with that I became worst still. Everything has become a trigger, appetite is nonexistant, I have cut myself for the first time and the suicidal thoughts have significantly worsened. I am in the midst of changing therapists again and praying that something will alleviate this. Fighting off suicidal thoughts is exhausting while trying to function and exel in normal society.

 

[anthony]

I have not had good experiences with EMDR. I began it with a therapist and within a month of starting I held a gun to my head for the first time in my life... ...I went to a secon therapist and was very up front and clear about my fear and worsening of symptoms from the EMDR. She tried a different approach and even with that I became worst still.

Therapy will make you worse initially... nothing you can do about that. You are trying to blame the two individual therapists for what you are completely missing... therapy will force you to accept your trauma, it will force you to face it, and as a result, it will heighten your symptoms initially, ie. first month or two, more even, depending on trauma severity and complexity. You must acknowledge this known aspect, because it happens to every single person who endures trauma therapy. If it doesn't happen, then you aren't doing trauma therapy.

 

[Heather]

I can hardly wait.....

I've had 2 EMDR sessions. The 2nd was working on a finding a safe place and working on relaxation techniques. My h.w. is to practice it at least once a day. I was doing it earlier today and it worked so well I fell asleep

.

She also asked me to describe three traumatic incidences before the age of 12. I guess we'll start with those next week (yuck).​

 

[anthony]

Yep, #3 is the beginning, if you have successfully accomplished session 2.

 

[Deleted member 487]

I never did try EMDR because I heard lots of good stuff, but then I found bad stuff as well. EMDR is not for everyone. Nor is "Brain Spotting", which is similar. My counselor and I tried the Brain Spotting, and it was physically painful for me.

I have since tried what is called (I think) "EEG Neuro-feedback". All I can say is if EMDR and Brain Spotting isn't for you, try the EEG Neuro-feedback. I have been using it and I think it's great!

 

[KP the nut]

With my personal experience of EMDR my symptoms became worse before getting better. I feel it is working for me. It is a vital part of the process to have grounding/coping techniques in place and to use them daily.

I still can't figure out why it is working for me, am I gullible and believe the psycho babble. I was sceptical but gave it my all and for me it is great. Never easy, upsetting and draining but good.

 

[anthony]

With my personal experience of EMDR my symptoms became worse before getting better... ...I still can't figure out why it is working for me, am I gullible and believe the psycho babble.

Getting worse before getting better is exactly what should happen, so that says everything is being done correctly.

What is psycho babble exactly about EMDR? It uses the same regime as other CBT methods, being psychotherapy models consistent, proven and tested that work effectively. The only thing that ever needs to be shifted with them is the application to the specific client based on their type of trauma. The same principles are used over and over again.

 

[TEL]

Sorry.....I am not sure why this didn't edit.

I don't know what I did....sorry!

The original post was........

I am changing therapists due to the three hour trip and it is too much for my back. Crmiminal injuries just approved another 15 sessions.

The new therapist...I know from church, 20 years ago. She said that it was ok to do EMDR even with multiple traumas....according to the PTSD workbook, I have 12. I am a bit unsure as i have read that it can be containdicated with numerous traumas.......I don't want to make a bad decision.

Does anyone have any advice or has anyone had EMDR with multiple traumas...I think i am starting to panic a bit.....I have to go wednesday afternoon. I am so afraid of making a bad decision but she said it was ok.......

Its okay to be afraid of making a bad decision. But do it anyway. Just take it slow.
I have multiple traumas and have had EMDR. Huge help. Most important that the therapist leading you is certified/trained. Don't let someone do it who isn't specifically trained for it. I've had it both ways and there is a tremendous difference.
I had a T who wasn't trained in it and I had to find another T because I needed more EMDR. I just got an email from that former T who said he is going for training now to become certified in EMDR. I was thrilled. Not enough trained Ts on this technique.
When I was first introduced to EMDR, I thought, 'this is silly. how can it possibly help?" But my T at that time was a very smart guy and he gave me brochures on it, assuring me that it does help. So I figured, what the heck, give it a shot. Very glad I did.
I understand about being afraid of making a bad decision. But I'm finding that being indecisive is a torment. I'm sure this fear of decision making is rooted in traumas. Don't let it stop you from trusting yourself to make good decisions. You're going to be alright! (smile)

 

[KP the nut]

What is psycho babble exactly about EMDR? It uses the same regime as other CBT methods, being psychotherapy models consistent, proven and tested that work effectively. .

My mistake, bad chice of words. I would recommend EMDR even if I can't get my head around how it works. It just does for me. T did some talk in my last session, we stopped the usual session and he tried something called 'double tapping'. He told me my right side (side with most injuries) was heavy and my left side was lighter, we did an exercise where my left hand freed my right hand/side until that too became lighter. It does seem to have helped. But what is the science there, don't know, don't care - it helped.