Why all the emdr and art bashing?

[Sennin]

I am new to this forum. I apologize if I step on a few toes. What I have discovered from looking around is that there is a large amount of bashing of EMDR and ART. They have been called hocus pocus and "drinking the kool-aid". And Brainspotting, which was used to help the trauma victims at Sandy Hook. These are actually effective therapies that have helped lots of people.

Why the hostility?

 

[somerandomguy]

Hmm, I've never seen anyone bash EMDR on these forums. The opposite actually. And I'm not sure I've ever heard of ART.

 

[Deleted member 47099]

Hmm, I've not seen much EMDR bashing either, but I've never done a search on it, so maybe I just haven't noticed it.

I've seen "brainspotting" mentioned a couple of times, and have been wondering what it is. Can you explain it? :)

Thanks! :)

 

[digger]

While people do share their EMDR experiences here quite honestly - the good with the bad - I think it's generally considered in a positive light by many members here.
Are you perhaps trawling through older threads on the subject where perhaps it was not so well understood, by both therapists and sufferers?

I don't know what ART is, can you clarify please?

Are you using either of these therapies yourself?

 

[Emotional girl]

I would never bash anything that helps other people feel better.
EMDR didn't work for me but I am sure it has worked for many other people and that can only be a good thing.

 

[Friday]

There are four Tier 1 level treatments for PTSD, of which EMDR is very much one of them.

Trauma Therapies For The Treatment Of PTSD

I have listed these first, as the rest are in alphabetical order. The following are the only four tried, tested and proven therapies for the treatment of PTSD that actually treat the cause, not the symptoms. Dead Link Removed:

1. Cognitive Therapy - Often referred as Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) (CBT) and Cognitive Trauma Therapy (CTT).
2. Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy - Often referred as Exposure Therapy
3. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
4. Stress Inoculation Therapy - Nowadays referred as Stress Management or Mind Body.

Tier 1 treatments are those that have been so fundamentally tested in Government and private practice against PTSD, they have been isolated as the best thing on the market to date. Delivery of the treatment is a whole other subject. Give a good treatment to an average therapist, you get an average result. Give a good treatment to an exceptional therapist who has a lazy client, same less than quality result. Combination of therapy, therapist and your attitude is what derives the outcome.
Ptsd therapies

ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) is a combo of Tier 1 treatments + psychodynamic & gestalt therapy. It’s not often discussed here, but the components of it often are.

Unless you meant art-therapy, which isn’t a Tier 1 treatment, but often used in conjunction with them in trauma therapy, to greater or lesser effect.

So I’m really not sure what you’re referring to, in regards to hostility & bashing? I’ve been here a few years now, and that’s not something I’ve ever really noticed. Lots of candid discussion regarding both people’s individual experiences & the science/practice, but if anything my observation is the opposite of yours. No treatment works for, much less is best for, everyone... but these 4 work so well, for so many, that they’re certainly uptalked & thrashed out an awful lot.

I’m wondering if you’re confusing people struggling in/with therapy -in general- and looking for ideas/tips/tricks/advice on either that modality, or looking for a different modality that might work better with them, with dismissing trauma therapy... or conflating a few people’s personal experience/opinion* with what therapies work best/worst for them... or if there’s something specific you’re referring to?

 

[Sennin]

Accelerated Resolution Therapy.

Perhaps it was just old messages that I was looking at. I did a search on ART and saw lots of posts bashing that and EMDR.

 

[Suzetig]

If people are posting their experiences of therapy, positive or negative why would it bother you?

 

[Deleted member 47099]

Also, it's probly fair to point out that a lot of ppl on this forum, myself included, have a funny/ rough sense of humour :rolleyes:

Sometimes there is complaining and griping going on in the sense of "Aaaaargh this therapy is so much hard work - I totally hate its guts!!" which is just playful stress-relief.

(Not saying this is what you were seeing in those threads, but it's certainly an aspect to consider)

 

[Sennin]

If people are posting their experiences of therapy, positive or negative why would it bother you?[/QUOT...

The problem was that the people posting were not people who experienced it.

 

[ILoveLife]

Question for you.. Why focus on the negative you found? Doesn't represent reality.

 

[ladee]

EMDR therapy was not around when I started this journey. But I have shared I would not do it at my age, but that is a personal choice, simply because I don't have the stamina to do this therapy... But I still reached my goal.

I've never seen 'bashing' at all... I know and see and read how many it's helping.. It's just what I've done, but in an accelerated way.

Really sorry, for you, more than what you perceive, because this site is a peer group with people all over the world. And there is nothing but support and encouragement here. We are human and have our little differences on occasion, but it is always taken care of very quickly.. I'm just sad you didn't see the great friendships, and the silliness and laughter we share to help each other.. the encouragement to hang on, it gets better and the 'here for you', the good stuff..!!

Your missing out on a lot if you don't try to read threads of success and willingness, and commitment... just sayin'.