Using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to treat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health diagnoses

By: Deb Berkey, LCSW

Deb Berkey

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic treatment that uses a set of procedures to organize your negative and positive sensations, emotions, and thoughts, and then utilizes bilateral stimulation such as eye movements, alternating tapping, or sound as a method to help an individual effectively work through disturbing memories. 

EMDR began in the 1980’s and quickly became the preferred treatment for military veterans who were struggling with combat related trauma and PTSD.  The evidence based EMDR was so successful that is exploded in popularity and is now used to treat depression, addictions, fears/phobias, grief and loss, and other emotional problems. 

EMDR bi-lateral stimulation is similar to Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.  In REM, the brain chooses what it is going to process, but in EMDR, the therapist and client can focus on a particular traumatic event, a series of events or “themes” that come to light after an assessment of the client’s history.  

In a recent EMDR session, a client who is in the medical profession, began to have panic attacks nightmares, non stop anxiety, hypervigilance , increased heart rate, muscle tension, hyperventilation, etc.  In addition to being on the front line during a Covid pandemic, she had some personal past and current traumatic experiences that began to feel overwhelming to her.  As she began to unravel and process and update her disturbing experiences, she was able to integrate her new insights and perspectives into her daily life.  She called EMDR “life changing” for her!

Another client who has a life-time history of child neglect, broken relationships, and other traumas, exclaimed after an EMDR session; “Something changed in me today.  I knew we had hard work to do today in therapy and I wanted to cancel but I am so glad I came”.  Her emotions are becoming increasingly regulated and easier for her to manage!