So...i Might Have Found A Therapist, And Have Some Questions About Emdr.

[J.A.S.]

I have an appointment set to see a therapist in two weeks. After a few horribly failed attempts to speak to a local counselor I gave up looking for a while, but things have gotten really bad again this past month, and I've reached the point where I've accepted I can't keep doing this on my own. So I looked online for therapists that specialized in treating trauma.
I've spoken to her over the phone, and she said that her usual approach is using EMDR?
I've done some research but it's still kind of confusing to me... Like, I get what is supposed to do, but how does it do it? What's the process, and does it actually work?

 

[Bananie]

My understanding/theorizing is that focusing on something in the present (the movements, or sounds, or tapping, however your t does it) while thinking about the past trauma somehow helps the trauma move along. I remember reading a long time ago that if you're stuck in a routine, changing that routine, even in little ways, creates new neural pathways. So my thought was that if you're in the routine of your trauma, the movements help change that routine.

 

[mexicoman55]

I have an appointment set to see a therapist in two weeks. After a few horribly failed attempts to spe...

EMDR is used to remove trauma. I've experienced many sessions with it and while it seemed to help in some way, it didn't remove my trauma. I found a solution, though EMDR wasn't it.

 

[I_Am_Titanium]

My therapist uses EMDR with me and it works great for me. I'm normally a skeptic on things like this but after experiencing it myself, I'm a big believer in it. I've been working with her for over a year now. I'm really not sure how to explain it. I'll give it a shot, though.

As I understand it, when we are traumatized our brain basically "short circuits" and can't process things normally. EMDR helps our brains process stuff so we no longer relive past events and we can move on. I'm not an expert by any means, by the way. EMDR stands for "Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing". Somehow when we move our eyes back and forth quickly while thinking about something or event, it helps our brains process it. I find myself doing this on my own at times when I'm working through an issue. People have pointed it out to me that I'm doing it and not even realizing it.

I'm not really sure exactly how it works (the brain is fascinating) but it works for me. I really don't know how to explain the actual process either. I'm sure your therapist can explain it better.

Have you read this site? EMDRIA (EMDR International Association). I can't seem to post the actual link to the right page so you'll have to Google it. When you find it, hover on "Resources" and click on "What is EMDR Therapy". Then scroll down the page and click on "What is the actual EMDR therapy session like?"

This is what a session is like for me. My therapist uses gentle vibrations with me via small paddles I hold in my hands. Depending on what negative cognition I'm working on, I may or may not feel an immediate result after one session. It just depends on what it is and how traumatizing it is to me. Some take several sessions for me to work through. The "installation" phase feels very empowering and sometimes I cry (more like sob) because it feels so good.

I wish you luck and hope it works for you. :)

 

[Freedomfighter]

I have an appointment set to see a therapist in two weeks. After a few horribly failed attempts to spe...

Not sure what the scientific explanation is for EMDR, but it does indeed move the trauma along. I use it when I am very distressed, there are days I do not need to use it. I wonder if our eyes moving in those different directions give impulses to the brain in a certain way to digest trauma and if that is the case how exactly does that happen? I would love to find out about this method and what really happens in the brain when we use it.

 

[J.A.S.]

I'm starting to wonder if I can do it, because I have a form of epilepsy..I guess I'll find out for sure at the appointment.

 

[joeylittle]

I guess I'll find out for sure at the appointment.

Check out the thread I've stickied at the top of this forum - you'll find good info on EMDR in there.

Comprehensive Q&a With Francine Shapiro, Inventor Of Emdr

 

[J.A.S.]

So I had my first session..
Feeling really conflicted about it all right now. It seems like she might be a good fit.. I told her that I'm really bad with taking about myself and that I haven't actually talked about any of what happened, and she said that was okay. She said she'd never try to force me to talk about it, that if I did talk about it, it would be my choice.
I'm still seriously terrified of starting the EMDR. We gave it a small little trial run with a happy memory, so that I cold kind of get an idea of what the process entailed.. it kind of worked, I guess? It wasn't what I expected, but when I was thinking about the memory, it did kind of clear up some, it wasn't as fuzzy.
This scares the shit out of me. If that little mini session cleared up some random memory, then what the hell is it gonna do when I start trying to focus on the bad stuff?
I'm still not sure I can do that..

 

[James McGregor]

My understanding/theorizing is that focusing on something in the present (the movements, or sounds, or...

a therapist tried EMDR with me years ago, i found it a bit confusing - i didnt really understand the process and it ended up feeling a bit farcical, maybe it wasnt done correctly but it wouldnt be something id be interested in trying again

 

[GoldenSunshine]

For me it was like hypnosis. First he therapist had me recall the 'bad' memory, then she waves her finger quickly left and right on front of my eyes and I follow her finger with my eyes. (I think this works like Rapid Eye Movement REM that you naturally do when you sleep) She stops then I close my eyes and see what 'comes up'. For me I had flashes of dreams, thoughts, memories and feeling and then I was told her what was happening within me, then she did the finger thing again. It helped me see the big picture of events feelings and thoughts that I had from that initial 'bad' experience/memory, and then she brought me back to the present moment feeling more empowered and a better mind set than before.