EMDR THERAPY

EMDR Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing

TRAUMA | ANXIETY | SELF-WORTH

EMDR is a unique healing tool that contains many transformational phases and processes. It is helpful for healing from past trauma and anxiety. EMDR can also used for future preparation and confidence building.

Originally developed by Francine Shapiro, PhD., EMDR therapy helps relieve suffering from stuck charged memories, transform negative beliefs, and reduce physical stress. The disturbing memories are accessed in brief doses while simultaneously undertaking bilateral movements, such as eye movements or tapping. Stuck negative/traumatic memories are processed, while simultaneously focusing on the bilateral movements, the external stimulation, in the present moment. Negative beliefs are transformed by integrating new associations for information processing.

EMDR therapy helps facilitate and enhance information processing in the memory network, and with new associations, it helps process traumatic and negative memories with more adaptive information, resulting in the development of more complete processing, with reduced emotional and physical distress, new learning, and higher insight.

There are eight phases of EMDR:

• Phase 1) History taking and treatment planning

• Phase 2) Preparation with understanding of process and building of coping and calming skills

• Phase 3) Assessment - identification of target memory, images, beliefs, feelings, and sensations about the event. Baseline is measured by using the Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD) scale and the Validity of Cognition (VOC) scale.

• Phase 4-6: Reprocessing phases which include dual attention bilateral stimulation (BLS). BLS activates the information processing system while keeping the client in the present moment. BLS includes eye movements, sounds, or taps. In phase 4, there is desensitization, with BLS while focusing on traumatic memory. This step continues until SUD reduces to zero (or 1). Often new memories, feelings, and sensations emerge. In phase 5, there is installation where client associates a new belief with the past memory until it feels true. In phase 6 a body scan is done where the client holds the target memory and the new positive belief in mind while scanning for any disturbances - if there are disturbances they are reprocessed until all is clear. Processing is complete when the SUB (Subjective Unit of Disturbance) is 0, the VOC (validity of cognition / positive belief) is 7, and the body is clear of any disturbance.

• Phase 7) Closure - the client practices calming skills to return fully to the present moment. If reprocessing of an event is not complete , the client will continue processing in next session. The closure step always happens at the end of each session.

• Phase 8) Reevaluation - each new session begins with evaluating last session, distress and cognition are measured. Future targets and directions are discussed.

EMDR is a three-pronged approach where past events, present issues, and anticipated future situations are targeted.

In addition to treating trauma, EMDR is also used for treating anxiety - anxiety can be significantly alleviated by identifying the underlying unprocessed events and negative beliefs behind the anxiety.

EMDR is a structured approach that is typically completed once or twice weekly over eight to twelve sessions. Some people may require less and some more. Extended sessions of 70 minutes or 90 minutes are recommended. Some clients continue using EMDR for future preparation and confidence building.

Welcome to contact me to see if EMDR may be a good fit for you. For more information about EMDR, you can visit EMDRIA, EMDR International Association.

Anna Karin Björklund, LMFT, offers in-person therapy in Newport Beach, Orange County, and online therapy, virtually serving all of California.