How EMDR Therapy Can Heal “Sticky” Memories And Feelings!
EMDR therapy is most known for treating fears and phobias, stuck grief, anxiety patterns and core beliefs connected to relational traumas. We know that our strong emotions and autopilot patterns are stored at the body level and within primitive brain structures (e.g., brainstem and amygdala). For this reason, EMDR’s optimal power is harnessed when this therapy is combined with body-oriented psychotherapy models such as Somatic Therapy (Sensorimotor Psychotherapy & Deep Brain Reorienting). This pairing of neurobiologically-based therapies aims to access and alter the reptilian brain and limbic system’s response rather than challenging the logical brain (prefrontal cortex). But before we get too far ahead in the neuroscience, let’s explain how EMDR therapy works in plain language!
Similar to the body’s immune system which is designed to protect against infection and disease, the brain has its own healing mechanism to recover from emotional pain. Sometimes, when psychological suffering is too overwhelming or stress is too chronic in nature, the brain’s natural healing capacity is disrupted leading to inability to “digest” and “metabolize” emotionally charged experiences. As we hold onto to our pain, their associated negative memories stay frozen and stuck in our nervous system leading to symptoms commonly experienced as anxiety, PTSD, depression, numbness and cyclic shame. This is where EMDR therapy can help and here’s what it looks like:
Step 1 – We spend time stabilizing the nervous system and building resilience within the body, and the mind. This is called expanding your window of distress tolerance via tools such as Somatic therapy, Mindfulness techniques, EMDR resourcing and Internal Family Systems therapy.
Step 2 – We prompt you to activate the negative feeling or memory via a guided visualization protocol.
Step 3 – We invite you to drop inwards, let go and follow the emotions, sensations, images and thoughts that emerge.
Step 4 – We use bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movement, alternating ear sounds or tapping) while you are in this interoceptive awareness state. This has several functions:
First, it encourages activation of more calming brainwaves;
Second, it helps the left and right brain communicate and integrate information;
Lastly, it allows the brain to reprocess negative memories in real time, neutralize strong emotions attached to these and metabolize stuck pain over the course of several sessions!
Curious and have more questions? Reach out to us to see how EMDR therapy can help you in the next chapter of your healing journey!
If you are thinking of trying EMDR therapy, you are definitely on the right path! You and your therapist will come up with an informed plan as to how to prepare your nervous system for optimal processing and deep healing. And just like any other growth experience, it would be important to view EMDR therapy as a long-term therapeutic investment rather than a band-aid solution with fixed terms.
Depression, anxiety or PTSD? Tired of talking in circles? EMDR can make the change. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy that uses bilateral eye movement to neutralize and help the brain digest triggers and painful memories. Our Richmond Hill team of psychotherapists combines these with Somatic Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Mindfulness Meditation and LENS Neurofeedback for best results.