(EMDR) Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing
What is EMDR?
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The initials stand for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing and it is a method of therapy that changes an individuals relationship with past events, meaning they can live more resourcefully in the present. For example, an individual who has experienced violence may struggle to feel or experience safety in their lives even though the threat has passed.
EMDR is a way of processing the past events so that the individual can live fully now, without fear or hyper vigilance. This is a method that has proven results with Veterans, first responders and survivors of long term trauma such as neglect, sexual trauma and domestic violence. |
Watch this short video to learn more about EMDR.
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Why Try EMDR?
EMDR is an evidence based approach and methodology that has proven results in overcoming phobias, trauma and PTSD.
Some people will only need a few sessions of EMDR therapy in order to reduce their symptoms, for more complex presentations such as dissociation and sustained or repeated trauma, a more comprehensive and extended treatment may be necessary. Examples of specific presentations that EMDR has benefited in the past are; PTSD, Childhood Trauma, OCD, Phobia, Anger Management, Self Harm.
Some people will only need a few sessions of EMDR therapy in order to reduce their symptoms, for more complex presentations such as dissociation and sustained or repeated trauma, a more comprehensive and extended treatment may be necessary. Examples of specific presentations that EMDR has benefited in the past are; PTSD, Childhood Trauma, OCD, Phobia, Anger Management, Self Harm.
How does EMDR work?
Psychopathology is a disorder of memory. This means if we can reprocess the memory then we can change our relationship with it and remove the negative resonance that has attached itself to it.
To begin with the first sessions are spent gathering information, creating stabilisation and making a plan of how we will proceed through the process.
We gather a list of all possible target memories from the past, triggers from the present and we create a plan of how we will use this to create different responses in future.
As we work through the process together, it becomes true that you can recall images and thoughts associated with the memory and it no longer disturbs you.
To begin with the first sessions are spent gathering information, creating stabilisation and making a plan of how we will proceed through the process.
We gather a list of all possible target memories from the past, triggers from the present and we create a plan of how we will use this to create different responses in future.
As we work through the process together, it becomes true that you can recall images and thoughts associated with the memory and it no longer disturbs you.
What is Trauma?
There are a few different ways in which trauma can be defined.
A single incident of trauma is an individual one off incident in which the person experienced or felt a threat to their life. Examples of this may be a car crash, sexual assault, violent attack. Remember, it does not matter if later it is apparent that their life was not actually in danger, it is the perceived threat to life that causes the issue.
Vicarious trauma is experienced by first responders who attend accidents and life threatening situations as well as clearing up following an incident such as bushfires.
Adverse Childhood Experiences as defined by the ACE questionnaire are another indicator of trauma. A score of 4 or above from these ten questions will identify if someone is classed as having trauma. The questions range from neglect, substance abuse, abandonment and domestic violence, which all have the capacity to generate trauma.
The quality and quantity of the trauma will determine the length of intervention required. More sustained trauma will require prolonged therapeutic intervention. It is a commitment to commence with EMDR, but one that has proven worthwhile as more and more people live free of the effects of their trauma.
Phobia is a context dependent trauma that has become attached to a situation, place or thing.Sometimes the phobia gets created not because of an experience with the thing itself but because of an experience that the individual was having around the time that the phobia was created. For example, an individual leaving an area following an earthquake via aeroplane who later develops a phobia of flying.The trauma becomes connected to something otherwise unrelated, in this instance the fear experienced following the earthquake attached itself to the aeroplane.
A single incident of trauma is an individual one off incident in which the person experienced or felt a threat to their life. Examples of this may be a car crash, sexual assault, violent attack. Remember, it does not matter if later it is apparent that their life was not actually in danger, it is the perceived threat to life that causes the issue.
Vicarious trauma is experienced by first responders who attend accidents and life threatening situations as well as clearing up following an incident such as bushfires.
Adverse Childhood Experiences as defined by the ACE questionnaire are another indicator of trauma. A score of 4 or above from these ten questions will identify if someone is classed as having trauma. The questions range from neglect, substance abuse, abandonment and domestic violence, which all have the capacity to generate trauma.
The quality and quantity of the trauma will determine the length of intervention required. More sustained trauma will require prolonged therapeutic intervention. It is a commitment to commence with EMDR, but one that has proven worthwhile as more and more people live free of the effects of their trauma.
Phobia is a context dependent trauma that has become attached to a situation, place or thing.Sometimes the phobia gets created not because of an experience with the thing itself but because of an experience that the individual was having around the time that the phobia was created. For example, an individual leaving an area following an earthquake via aeroplane who later develops a phobia of flying.The trauma becomes connected to something otherwise unrelated, in this instance the fear experienced following the earthquake attached itself to the aeroplane.
What to expect from an EMDR session with Positive Future Self
To proceed with EMDR with Positive Future Self in Port Lincoln, you can expect to begin by completing some basic forms that ask questions about your experiences to date, your family of origin and what you are struggling with at the moment. You will be expected to do all of the pre work in order for us to proceed with the process.
If you are attending weekly appointments, there will be three or four appointments before we begin with the Eye Movements. If you are attending a breakthrough day then this will be the first few hours of the day. This is a usual part of the process and is necessary in order to set you up for success. We will then systematically target all the past events and present triggers before creating resources for you to access in future.
If you are attending weekly appointments, there will be three or four appointments before we begin with the Eye Movements. If you are attending a breakthrough day then this will be the first few hours of the day. This is a usual part of the process and is necessary in order to set you up for success. We will then systematically target all the past events and present triggers before creating resources for you to access in future.
