Everyone has experienced a traumatic event in their lifetime. For instance, you may have lost a loved one or have been involved in an accident. What matters the most is how you deal with your trauma. However, some people may find it hard to move on from their traumatic ordeal, thus requiring treatment. EMDR therapy offers the best treatment for those suffering from various traumatic events. The therapy uses eye movement to alter how people's memory is stored and processed in the brain. This treatment is ideal for those suffering from depression, performance anxiety, stress, panic attacks, and phobias. This blog will discuss what you should expect when scheduled to undergo EMDR therapy.
Phase 1: History Check and Preparation
Before the therapist commences the treatment, they must know various things about you. As part of the history session, you must discuss your past experiences. The primary aim is for the therapist to understand your emotional triggers. Based on your information, the therapist will then prepare for EMDR therapy. It entails identifying the memory causing your emotional distress to ensure the treatment works. It also involves planning the proper reaction techniques, such as breathing exercises based on your main emotional trigger. At this stage, the therapist will understand what is bothering you.
Phase 2: Treatment
The treatment part of EMDR therapy involves memory desensitization. The therapist will ask you to recall one of your painful memories while performing various eye movements. They will then ask you to express your feelings when recollecting your memories. This feedback is crucial to the therapist since it illustrates the progress of EMDR therapy. Do not worry about reliving some of your painful memories because your therapist will be there for you, and they will help you feel better. The therapist will determine if you completely reprocessed your painful memories after the EMDR therapy session. If you still feel stressed, they will help you manage it before leaving their office.
Phase 3: Re-evaluation
The therapist must re-evaluate the treatment at the end of the EMDR therapy program. The main aim is to certify whether the treatment worked and if you are ready to stop the therapy sessions. For those who have worked through their issues, the therapist will give tips on handling emotional triggers in the future. It gives you the confidence to work through your painful memories alone without always going to therapy. If you are still depressed, the re-evaluation sessions will also determine the memories to target in the subsequent sessions.
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