Commonly Asked Questions about EMDR Therapy

Have you been referred to EMDR Therapy by another professional? Or has a close friend or relative had profound results with EMDR and now suggesting that you should try it?

If you’re wondering what in the world is EMDR Therapy, we are here to answer those questions. There are aspects of EMDR Therapy that are different than regular talk therapy and we want to provide as much information about the process so you can feel comfortable before you even pick up the phone to call. Of course, you are always welcome to call us and ask any questions.

What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR therapy stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This therapeutic approach was initially studied to heal symptoms of trauma, however, it has been further studied and utilized to help people heal from anxiety, depression, stress, and more. One of the core tenets of EMDR is that our current struggles are rooted in past memories and experiences.

EMDR therapy is based on a theory known as adaptive information processing (AIP). This theory explains that our brains have a natural information-processing system that we are all born with. The function of that system is to take in information that we need to support our learning and growth and then get rid of the rest that isn’t needed.

However, when we experience a distressing or traumatic event, our information processing system becomes overwhelmed and doesn’t function as it normally would. Because of this, this traumatic event gets stored in our brain and body with all the same thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, sounds, and other information that occurred at the time of the event. 

With all of this highly charged information being stored in our brains and bodies, these memories are easily triggered in our present-day lives. EMDR uses techniques that aim to resolve distress, allowing you to feel calmer and more in control.

How does EMDR Therapy work?

EMDR uses back-and-forth motions known as bilateral stimulation to both desensitize and reprocess difficult or traumatic memories. There are several different ways of doing bilateral stimulation. The original method was by following the therapist’s fingers with your eyes. These bilateral movements mimic a function that the body already does on its own, known as rapid eye movement that happens during REM sleep. During this sleep cycle, your eyes move rapidly back and forth, just as they do during an EMDR session.

As EMDR Therapy has evolved over time EMDR therapists utilized a wide variety of bilateral stimulation. Some examples are by tapping left to right on your shoulders, arms, or knees, or by utilizing EMDR hand tappers, which vibrate in your hands, left to right. Your EMDR therapist will introduce you to multiple forms of bilateral stimulation and you will choose what feels most comfortable to you.

Once your preferred method of bilateral stimulation is identified, your EMDR therapist will help guide you in identifying a past memory that is contributing to current distress and then lead you through bilateral stimulation. Using bilateral stimulation helps access these past memories in the present, in a safe and contained environment, so they can be reprocessed instead of continuing to be stowed away.

By using EMDR, you can begin to feel relief from the emotional intensity of these past events and take in information that is useful for you moving forward. With EMDR Therapy, your brain is doing the heavy lifting of moving toward healing and your EMDR therapist is there to help guide this process. If you’d like to learn more check out this two-minute video animation by VEN EMDR, it does a great job of illustrating how EMDR Therapy works.

What can I expect from start to finish in EMDR Therapy?

In EMDR, there are 8 phases that are outlined for the course of treatment. The initial phase is referred to as history and treatment planning. 

For an even deeper dive into the 8 phases of EMDR Therapy, visit Experiencing EMDR Therapy on EMDRIA’s website.

What can I expect in an EMDR session?

EMDR sessions vary depending on what phase of treatment you are currently in. An EMDR session in the initial stages can consist of learning about your history and symptoms, introducing the bilateral movements used in EMDR, teaching you new skills to use, and more. 

While moving into the later phases of EMDR, you and your therapist will select which memory to work on and then begin bilateral movements to help reprocess the memory. During these sessions, you can expect your therapist to ask questions to bring up the memory you’ve intended to work on, lead you in sets of bilateral stimulation, and check in periodically between these sets. 

At the end of EMDR sessions, your therapist will discuss what stood out to you as significant during processing that day and ensure that you feel stable and calm prior to exiting the session.

How long does EMDR Therapy take?

Because each person’s experience is unique, the length of treatment with EMDR therapy varies from person to person. Many factors are considered when tailoring treatment to your specific needs, which can either shorten or increase the amount of time needed for EMDR therapy to be most effective. Some of these factors include the ability to regulate emotions, the complexity of traumatic events you’ve experienced, current life stressors, and more.

Your EMDR therapist’s priority is your emotional well-being and safety and they are trained to determine when moving into reprocessing is appropriate. Therefore, your therapist will not begin this work with you until you are feeling stable and ready to dive into trauma work. This timeline looks different for different people, making it hard to estimate the exact amount of time EMDR therapy takes. 

What issues does EMDR Therapy help with? 

EMDR therapy can be beneficial for many different concerns, including:

• PTSD/Trauma

• Abuse or neglect

• Panic Attacks

• Phobias

• Anxiety

• Stress

• Flashbacks

• Nightmares

• Perfectionism

• Decision-making anxiety

• Performance anxiety

• Healing from toxic relationships

Where can I get more information about EMDR Therapy?

For more information about EMDR therapy, I encourage you to visit EMDRIA’s website. You can also check out other articles we’ve written on EMDR Therapy. You can also read other resources on our website:

Orlando Therapist: Is EMDR Therapy Right for You? — Mindful Living Counseling Orlando

Orlando Therapist: What is EMDR? — Mindful Living Counseling Orlando

EMDR Therapy Orlando Q&A — Mindful Living Counseling Orlando

Why Mindful Living Counseling Orlando for EMDR Therapy?

At Mindful Living Counseling, all of our counselors are trained or certified in EMDR. Our counselors are highly trained and have extensive knowledge in applying EMDR to a variety of concerns. The owner and Clinical Director, Lauran Hahn, LMHC has extensive training and experience in EMDR Therapy. She is a certified EMDR therapist, Approved EMDR consultant, and is embarking on her journey as an EMDR Facilitator.

We encourage collaboration in our office and provide support to each other on client cases if needed while maintaining confidentiality. This means that you get the expertise of not just one EMDR therapist but multiple! The collaborative nature of our office helps provide multiple perspectives, ensuring that you get the best care possible.

We also value client feedback and check in every month to discuss your experience in therapy, if you feel you’re making progress, and if you would like to change any aspect of your sessions. We encourage our clients to have open communication about their experiences and value your voice and perspective. If you'd like to learn more about the outcomes in our practice, check out Best Therapist Orlando.

Other Therapy Services Offered at Mindful Living Counseling in Orlando, FL

Mindful Living therapists know that you need support regarding anxiety, depression, and toxic relationships. We offer a variety of therapy services which include Anxiety therapy, Trauma therapy, and Toxic Relationship Therapy to help you receive the support you need. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out and schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.

EMDR Therapy for a Recent Trauma

Have you been impacted by a community-wide traumatic event? If so, you may qualify to receive 5 free EMDR Therapy sessions through the Trauma Recovery Network. Please reach out to the Trauma Recovery Network for more information.