"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

What is EMDR therapy, and the way does it help individuals who have experienced trauma?

earlier this 12 months, Prince Harry revealed. She has used a therapy called EMDR to cope with anxiety and trauma, including the trauma that resulted from the death of her mother, Princess Diana, on the age of 12.

He demonstrates this method within the Apple TV+ documentation You Can't See Me.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. But what is that this therapy and the way does it work?



What is EMDR?

EMDR is one. Psychological treatment The goal is to scale back the distressing emotions related to painful memories.

This involves consulting a trained psychologist, often about 12 sessions.

Broadly, the sessions involve eight steps:

  1. History and treatment plan: The psychiatrist will discuss the precise reason for the patient's visit and take an in depth history.

  2. Preparation: The psychologist will consult with the patient about what they’ll expect from EMDR. In this phase, the psychologist may even teach the patient leisure techniques that they’ll use to calm themselves during or after the session.

  3. Diagnosis: The psychologist will ask the patient to decide on a transparent picture of their mind that they wish to work on. The patient may even be asked to give attention to any negative beliefs about themselves, or negative feelings related to the event.

  4. Numbness: The patient will likely be asked to carry the painful memory of their mind while moving the psychologist's finger forwards and backwards with their eyes. The psychologist may additionally guide the patient in tapping (for instance, the patient taps his knees together with his hands in an alternating pattern) or sounds heard through headphones. These alternate eye movements engage the identical parts of the brain.

  5. Installation: The patient is instructed to switch the unique negative belief with a positive one.

  6. Body Scan: The patient thinks in regards to the actual memory whether there’s any physical tension left within the body or not. Memory processing will likely be complete when the memory not causes the patient distress. If this still occurs, step 4 will likely be repeated.

  7. Closure: This is the tip of the session. If the memory intensity has not yet decreased, the psychologist will guide the patient through leisure exercises until the following session.

  8. Reassessment: This is the start of the following session, where the therapist and client review the work of the previous session and re-evaluate the treatment plan as needed.



The therapist continually checks in with the client throughout the method.

An necessary step at the tip of treatment involves trying to the longer term. The psychologist may ask the patient to assume an anticipated challenge.

For example, if the patient had been in a automobile accident, they could imagine driving at night or alone on the highway, and see if any painful feelings arise. If they do, the patient should still need some more treatment.

A novel aspect of EMDR is that the person doesn’t need to debate any of their troubling memories intimately. The psychologist might ask “What event do you remember that made you anxious?” And the patient may say, “That's something my father did to me.” This process will be refrained from any additional information.

How does EMDR work? Who else can use it?

The dual activity of interested by a distressing memory and moving the eyes rapidly back and forth appears to scale back the extent of emotion within the memory.

One theory is that interested by a traumatic memory and following an object with the eyes requires more memory than is offered, so the traumatic memory shouldn’t be fully accessed and loses its power.

EMDR is performed with a trained therapist.
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EMDR therapy is often used to treat symptoms of traumatic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Oh A review of 26 clinical trials EMDR treatment has significantly reduced symptoms of PTSD, depression, anxiety and anxiety in individuals with PTSD.

The use of EMDR has been demonstrated in children with PTSD. To be effective too

the people With phobias Or anxiety concerns also can profit, as can people. With depression.



Although research shows that EMDR is an efficient method for reducing trauma, there could also be some risks. or side effects Involved are:

  • An increase in disturbing memories

  • Increased emotions or physical sensations throughout the session

  • Lightness

  • lucid dream

  • Surfacing of latest painful memories.

If any of those occur, the treating psychologist will often help the patient process them throughout the session.

Is EMDR Accredited?

gave World Health Organization And International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Both recommend EMDR therapy as a treatment for adults and youngsters with PTSD.

It has also been endorsed by Australian Psychological Society.