Trauma & How EMDR Works

So, what is Trauma?

Trauma can be thought of as a negative event or happening in our lives which is outside of our normal experience in everyday living. It can be a big 'T' trauma, like a car accident or a small 'T' trauma, like a bad experience at public speaking perhaps.

What we do know is that often when something traumatic happens, it seems to get locked in the nervous system with the original picture, sounds, thoughts, feelings, and so on. Since the experience is locked there, it continues to be triggered whenever a reminder comes up. It can then become the basis for a lot of discomfort and sometimes a lot of negative emotions, such as fear and helplessness that we can't seem to control. These are really the emotions connected with the old experience that are being triggered.

How Does EMDR Help?

The eye movements used in EMDR seems to unlock the nervous system and allow your brain to process the experience. It is thought that this may also be what is happening in REM sleep, or dream sleep. Though the use of similar eye movement the brain seems to unlock the negatively stored memories and process the event to a better resolution.

What is an EMDR session like?

During EMDR, the therapist works with the client to identify the specific problem or traumatic memory as the focus for the treatment session/s. The client is asked to call to mind the disturbing issue or event that was seen, felt, heard, thought etc.

The therapist will then ask the client to bring up the memory and begin eye movements or other bilateral stimulation. The eye movements are used until the memory comes less disturbing and becomes associated with a positive thought and belief. The eye movements appear to be involved in processing the unconscious material (negatively stored) and the issues naturally shift to a healthier resolution.