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Michelle Bohls, MA, LMFT, EMDR, CIT (Imago) |
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EMDR Frequently Asked Questions
So what is EMDR exactly? What can I expect?
You can watch this video on U-tube for a sample session (my style is different but the basics are there so you can get an idea.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sD-fLIvXao
if this link doesn't work you can search Utube for "EMDR"
There are actually two key elements of EMDR treatment. The first is something called “bilateral stimulation”--which just means “two-sided stimulation.” You probably know that your brain has a right hemisphere and a left hemisphere and that each side of your body is “hard-wired” to a specific side of your brain. Creating a rhythmic, back and forth stimulation of each hemisphere of the brain seems to stimulate something we call the “information processing system” to go into a highly accelerated mode of functioning--which is exactly the treatment effect we have to create to get the results we’re after. There are several different methods that have been developed for creating the “bilateral stimulation” effect. The methods I use are two finger knee taps, following my fingers with your eyes to produce that rhythmic, back and forth feeling, or a device that alternately vibrates small paddles you hold in your hands.
The second key element of EMDR treatment is sort of the “art and science” of how I have to prompt and guide your thoughts while we’re doing the bilateral stimulation. I’ll explain this in more detail to you, but in a nutshell how I do this will be determined by a number of factors unique to your individual situation.
“Is EMDR something like hypnosis?”
EMDR is very different than hypnosis in three important ways:
1. In EMDR you don’t go into any kind of “altered state”--you’re totally aware of what’s going on, you’re totally in control of the process, and it’s nothing that somebody is doing to you--it’s your brain that’s doing the work; the EMDR is simply a catalyst for speeding up the benefits you get from psychotherapy.
2. EMDR does not have the capacity to create false memories.
3. EMDR is not at all dependent on the placebo effect--in other words, somebody can be totally convinced that it’s not going to work and it still works just as well, because it’s purely a biophysical process.
"I thought EMDR was designed for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and I've
never been through anything particularly traumatic...so how will it help me with my issues?"
Traumatic events may reduce the ability to cope with other kinds of stress. Both traumatic experiences and overall distress may increase the risk of developing post-traumatic symptoms after either a traumatic experience or a non-traumatic life event. According to the December, 2005 Harvard Mental Health Letter (“Post-traumatic Stress Without Trauma”): Experiences not usually regarded as traumatic can cause the characteristic symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. Surprisingly, life events (such as relationship problems, work problems, financial problems, school problems, health problems, significant losses or life changes) were as likely as traumatic events to cause symptoms typical of post-traumatic stress disorder. In fact, people whose worst event was not traumatic had more post-traumatic stress symptoms for a longer time than those whose worst event was traumatic.
The authors suggest that life events may increase overall psychological stress and distress, bringing on symptoms related to an earlier trauma.
“How well researched and scientifically proven is EMDR?”
For detailed answers to that question, I would encourage you to go to www.emdr.com/studies.htm, but here’s a few quick answers:
- EMDR is the most researched psychotherapy method for PTSD.
- There are more controlled studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of EMDR in the treatment of PTSD than any other method.
- As of 2002, more than 20 controlled outcome studies of EMDR have already been published and/or presented. These studies all found EMDR superior to the control condition on measures of PTSD, with EMDR using fewer treatment sessions to achieve effects. Follow up studies at intervals up to 5 years after treatment have indicated a high level of maintenance of treatment effects.
- EMDR is on the American Psychological Association Division of Clinical Psychology’s list of empirically validated methods. Only two other methods are even on this list for the treatment of PTSD.
- The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies has stated that EMDR is an “effective treatment.”
- The United Kingdom Department of Health has listed EMDR as an effective treatment.
- EMDR is endorsed by the American Red Cross, the FBI, the International Critical Incident Stress Management Foundation, and major HMO’s such as Kaiser and Value Options.
- EMDR courses are being taught in over 30 colleges and universities, and it is part of the standard treatment in many VA hospitals.
- David V. Baldwin, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist in Eugene, Oregon (email: dvb@trauma-pages.com) has compiled a current list of published journal articles on EMDR. As of 2001 he already had 238 articles on his list.
- EMDR was used extensively to treat survivors in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing, and in New York after 9-11.
- New research presented in the Fall of 2003 in Chicago by Dr. Bessel A. van der Kolk, M.D. is showing EMDR to be more effective than the SSRI’s (drugs like Prozac & Zoloft). (Dr. van der Kolk is Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University Medical School, Clinical Director of the Trauma Center at HRI Hospital in Brookline, Massachusetts, and past President of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS). He has taught at universities and hospitals across the United States and around the world, including Europe, Africa, Russia, Australia, Israel, and China. He has been active as a clinician, researcher and teacher in the area of stress since the 1970s. He has published extensively on the impact of stress on human development, and his book Psychological Trauma was the first integrative text on the subject. His latest book explores what we have learned in the past 20 years about the role of stress in psychiatric illness, and his current research is on brain imaging and how stress affects memory processes.)
“If EMDR is so great, why have I never heard of it before?”
EMDR has actually received a great deal of media attention the last few years. Segments have been run on shows like Dateline and 20/20 spotlighting the extraordinary speed and effectiveness of EMDR.
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So how quickly can I expect to reach my treatment goals?”
That depends on a number of variables unique to your own personal situation, but here are some generalities:
From what I’ve seen in working with clients, people seem to progress about four times as fast with EMDR than with any other form of treatment I’ve ever seen.
After our first actual EMDR session, I’ll be able to answer that question a lot more specifically, because I should have a pretty clear indication of how rapidly your body and nervous system are responding. That’s one thing I really like about EMDR--the changes occur so rapidly that most people start noticing positive benefits right from the very first session.
You can speed up the pace of our progress by sticking as closely as possible to well documented Lifestyle guidelines --getting on a consistent sleep schedule, use abdominal breathing or yoga breathing, getting a little exercise everyday, drinking lots of water, avoiding use of chemical depressants (like alcohol and marijuana), and restricting use of chemical stimulants (like caffeine & nicotine).
“Could our EMDR work accidentally change something I don’t really want to change?”
No. The really interesting thing about your brain is that it came “pre-programmed” to automatically do what you want it to do--it just has to be stimulated correctly! EMDR seems to help your brain get rid of what you don’t want and need, and actually strengthen what you do want and need. It will not take away anything useful for you, and it will not change anything you don’t want to change
“Are there any possible negative side effects of EMDR treatment?
Only two that anybody’s been able to identify:
1) EMDR has a tendency to make bad memories seem very distant or unclear, so if we’re dealing with something you’re going to have to testify about in court, we’re going to want to talk to your attorney about the possible implications of your treatment (you may end up being a lousy witness!).
2) EMDR has the ability to bring back a memory strongly enough so that you may momentarily have the same intensity of emotion that you had at the time the event was occurring. Because of the way I use EMDR very strategically, this happens very rarely with my clients--the vast majority of them find our work to be very gentle, calming, and relaxing. If it were to occur, I would always take the time to help you get to a better place with it before you leave my office--my goal is to always leave people walking out feeling better than when they walked in! The possibility, though, does bring up three important issues:
It’s extremely important that during our history-taking that you tell me about any significant traumas you’ve experienced.
If you are in recovery for any form of addiction and “strong feelings” are one of your triggers, I would encourage you to be very aggressive about “working your program” and make sure you have a good relapse prevention plan in place.
Adapted from Gregory Smith's information at http://www.gregorysmith.info/default.asp?PageID=122010
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