Credentials: Certified EMDR Therapist
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy, people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can, in fact, heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it can become infected and cause pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes.
More than 30 controlled outcome studies with positive results have been conducted on EMDR therapy. Some of the studies show that 84%-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have post-traumatic stress disorder after only three 90-minute sessions. Another study, funded by the HMO Kaiser Permanente, found that 100% of the single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims were no longer diagnosed with PTSD after only six 50-minute sessions. In another study, 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD in 12 sessions. There has been so much research on EMDR therapy that it is now recognized as an effective form of treatment for trauma and other disturbing experiences by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, and the Department of Defense. Given the worldwide recognition as an effective treatment of trauma, you can easily see how EMDR therapy would be effective in treating the “everyday” memories that are the reason people have low self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness, and all the myriad problems that bring them in for therapy. Over 100,000 clinicians worldwide use the treatment. Millions of people have been treated successfully over the past 25 years.
Treatment Description:
Phase I
The first phase is a history-taking session(s). The therapist assesses the client’s readiness and develops a treatment plan. Client and therapist identify possible targets for EMDR processing. These include distressing memories and current situations that cause emotional distress. Other targets may include related incidents in the past. Emphasis is placed on developing specific skills and behaviors that the client will need in future situations.
Initial EMDR processing may be directed to childhood events rather than to adult-onset stressors or the identified critical incident if the client had a problematic childhood. Clients generally gain insight into their situations, the emotional distress resolves, and they start to change their behaviors. The length of treatment depends on the number of traumas and the age of PTSD onset. Generally, those with single-event adult-onset trauma can be successfully treated in under 5 hours. Multiple trauma victims may require a longer treatment time.
Phase II
During the second phase of treatment, the therapist ensures that the client has several different ways of handling emotional distress. The therapist may teach the client a variety of imagery and stress reduction techniques that the client can use during and between sessions. A goal of EMDR therapy is to produce rapid and effective change while the client maintains equilibrium during and between sessions.
Phases III through VI
In phases three to six, a target is identified and processed using EMDR therapy procedures. These involve the client identifying three things:
1. The vivid visual image related to the memory
2. A negative belief about oneself
3. Related emotions and body sensations.
In addition, the client identifies a positive belief. The therapist helps the client rate both the positive belief and the intensity of the negative emotions. After this, the client is instructed to focus on the image, negative thoughts, and body sensations while simultaneously engaging in EMDR processing using sets of bilateral stimulation. These sets may include eye movements, taps, or tones. The type and length of these sets are different for each client. At this point, the EMDR client is instructed to notice whatever happens spontaneously.
After each set of stimulation, the clinician instructs the client to let his/her mind go blank and to notice whatever thought, feeling, image, memory, or sensation comes to mind. Depending on the client’s report, the clinician will choose the next focus of attention. These repeated sets, with directed and focused attention, occur numerous times throughout the session. If the client becomes distressed or experiences difficulty progressing, the therapist follows established procedures to help the client regain their track.
When the client reports no distress related to the targeted memory, he is asked to think of the preferred positive belief that was identified at the beginning of the session. At this time, the client may adjust the positive belief if necessary and then focus on it during the next set of distressing events.
Phase VII
In Phase VII, Closure, the therapist asks the client to keep a log for the week. The log should document any related material that may arise. It serves as a reminder to the client of the self-calming activities they mastered in Phase Two.
Phase VIII
The next session begins with phase eight. Phase eight consists of examining the progress made thus far. The EMDR treatment processes all related historical events, current incidents that elicit distress, and future events that will require different responses.
Quick links
EMDR International Association
Public Awareness Film for EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy combines different elements to maximize treatment effects. A full description of the theory, sequence of treatment, and research on protocols and active mechanisms can be found in F. Shapiro (2001) Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (2nd edition) New York: Guilford Press.
EMDR therapy involves attention to three time periods: the past, present, and future. The focus is given to past disturbing memories and related events. Also, it is given to current situations that cause distress, and to developing the skills and attitudes needed for positive future actions. With EMDR therapy, these items are addressed using an eight-phase treatment approach.
Eye Movement May Be Able To Heal Our Traumas | Tricia Walsh | TEDxUCDavisSF
Tricia Kim Walsh shows us how to better understand ourselves in this poignant, personal talk. Her story of self-discovery will make you change the way you think about "connections". Discover the powerful therapy of EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing that can help people to heal from their traumas. Patricia “Tricia” Kim Walsh is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapist. She has successfully held a full private practice located in Pleasant Hill for the last 6 years, working with individual adults, tweens, teens, couples and families.
Tricia also works full-time as a Mental Health Specialist with Crossover Health, providing individual therapy to full-time employees of a large Silicon Valley employer. Her clinical areas of specialty are PTSD/trauma, depression, anxiety, stress management, grief and loss, self-exploration, and relational conflict.
She previously served as a faculty counselor and counseling outreach coordinator at the Student Health and Counseling Center of California State University, East Bay for five years. During her time, she provided individual, couples, and group therapy to the undergraduate and graduate students of CSUEB. Tricia received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis with a double major in Communication and Sociology of Law. She also holds a paralegal certificate and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. When she is not in the therapy office, Tricia spends time with her husband and two cats, Loke & Mocha, and enjoys traveling, writing, acting, dancing, and singing. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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