Seven Common Misconceptions About EMDR Therapy for Trauma
By an EMDR Trauma Therapist in Denver, Colorado
Finding a therapist, and therapeutic approach, which will guide us as we heal from unresolved trauma is a daunting task that can be filled with misinformation. This process is made even more difficult by the fact that we are usually in a place of distress while searching. The internet has made it easier to find therapists in our area and research how therapy works, but how much can we trust what each website says?
Understanding how to vet a website and decide if the information is both valid and relevant to our situation is a skill that we often learn after we have believed the inaccurate information that abounds online. Therapy is no exception when it comes to this misinformation. Assumptions, misconceptions, and uninformed opinions about therapy modalities are everywhere.
All of this makes a difficult and vulnerable process even more confusing and overwhelming. When it comes to trauma therapy, your search results will return with thousands of pages praising or demonizing EMDR, but what is it and what is the truth about this therapy?
What is EMDR Trauma Therapy?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy that uses a defined protocol to help reprocess our initial memory of a distressing event. During this protocol, a trained therapist helps reconnect the memory of the trauma to a more adaptive response than the client has been experiencing. EMDR utilizes bilateral movements (most commonly eye movements and/or hand buzzers/tapping) to support the nervous system through trauma processing.
Photo of EMDR therapy utilizing hand buzzers and eye movements.
EMDR can be described as feeling somewhat “woo woo” at first, especially in relation to the bilateral movements pictured above. As a result, there are a lot of misconceptions about EMDR which make it difficult to know what is true and what isn’t about this highly useful therapeutic modality. Let’s break it down.
Common Misconceptions about EMDR Therapy
I. EMDR is new.
EMDR is based on the observations of Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987. She noticed that she felt less distressed if she moved her eyes back and forth when she was having a distressing thought. Shortly after she made this observation, she began research studies to see if this observation could be generalized and used as a treatment option. It soon became apparent that the protocol developed in the studies had the potential to help treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This therapy is over 30 years old!
II. EMDR is not based on neuroscience or research.
EMDR is one of the most well-researched therapeutic modalities with over 30 years of research showing its effectiveness. EMDR studies suggest that some people’s brains process upsetting events differently resulting in the event or trauma being left unresolved. This model is called Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) and when the brain processes trauma or distress in this manner it can lead to trauma responses.
Electroencephalograms have shown the changes in brain waves when using EMDR. The eye movements used in the EMDR protocol have been shown to mimic slow-wave sleep patterns in the brain. These patterns are calming to a part of the brain called the amygdala. The amygdala is responsible for processing emotions and when it becomes overwhelmed memories can get stuck in a loop in the amygdala, which can cause flashbacks, nightmares, and other trauma responses. Calming the amygdala while reprocessing distressing events can help the memory get “unstuck” and decrease the emotion associated with the traumatic event.
III. EMDR is useless if the client does not remember the trauma.
Just because we cannot verbally express what happened during a distressing or traumatic event does not mean we do not remember it. When faced with a threat our brain focuses all its energy on neutralizing or escaping the threat. This means that things like language processing are not “recording” during the event. The good thing is that EMDR is not “talk therapy”. You do not have to verbally relive the event. You only need to be able to reprocess the memory internally, however your brain recorded it.
IV. EMDR is just hypnosis by a longer name.
Nope. No. Not true. EMDR is a completely different process than hypnosis. When hypnotized we are not completely in control of our conscious or subconscious selves. During EMDR we are completely awake and in control. The aim of the eye movement protocol is not to hypnotize, but to soothe the amygdala and allow the brain to resolve the distressing event.
V. EMDR will just make things worse!
When following the protocol for EMDR the client might still experience trauma reactions or notice symptoms between sessions. Increased nightmares and dreams are commonly reported. The therapist will teach the client relaxation techniques to use when they do experience symptoms. This is an often-overlooked aspect of EMDR, and it is a very important part of the process. EMDR does not cure trauma in one session, but it should not be making things worse between sessions. It is exhausting to reprocess trauma, so it is essential to practice solid, meaningful self-care when undergoing EMDR treatment.
VI. Therapists can use EMDR therapy to plant false memories.
The goal of EMDR therapy is to reprocess old information. It is not about investigating if something happened, nor is it about verifying what happened. The content and accuracy of the memory is not what is important in EMDR — observing your reaction to the memory and calming the nervous system so the trauma can be reprocessed is the important part. Memories are changeable! Simply remembering an event can change the memory, so it is important not to get too hung up on the exact events. This is therapy, not a trial.
VII. EMDR is a one session fix for my trauma.
As stated above, EMDR therapy will not “fix” your trauma in one session. There are eight distinct phases to EMDR. It is important that trauma informed therapy be a staged or phased approach to avoid “trauma dumping” which is exactly what it sounds like. If we engage in trauma dumping, we can retraumatize ourselves and cause the therapist’s office to be an unsafe place for us to return to. EMDR is designed to ensure that the client is prepared for the process and has the resources they need to appropriately respond to symptoms. Complex trauma can take longer to work through due to the volume of distressing and associated memories that need to be reprocessed. EMDR does work with trauma more rapidly than other modalities might, but it is unlikely to be a one session cure.
If you think you want to try EMDR therapy…
Find a therapist who is certified in EMDR or who is EMDR trained and is being mentored by a certified EMDR therapist
Review any payment or insurance claim information from the therapist or your health plan to ensure you know what your financial responsibility is
Bring close family/friends in the loop
EMDR can be exhausting, so telling those close to us what we are doing and how they can support us is important
Talk to any medical professionals that need to know about changes in brain function and trauma responses
Primary Care Physicians, Psychiatrists, Cardiologists, etc.
Start carving time out for meaningful, regular self-care
This time is useful for practicing relaxation techniques, meditation, or other activities which help us relax and feel fulfilled in our lives
Next steps to start EMDR therapy
If you realize that you would like to find support for your trauma or distressing memories, EMDR therapy in Denver could be a great next step.
Each of the trauma counselors at CZ Therapy Group can support you in your process of moving through past wounds and deep emotions that lead to trauma responses. We offer in person trauma counseling in Denver, Colorado and online appointments throughout the state.
Contact us to connect with an EMDR trauma therapist on our team!