What To Expect from EMDR Therapy Phoenix
In this world that we live in, trauma is often inevitable - this is true whether you live here in Phoenix or live halfway across the globe. From generational trauma from our families in Phoenix to natural disasters, car accidents, racism, social injustice, inequality, a global pandemic, and more, trauma is invasive and can be found everywhere.
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While scrolling through Instagram and seeing the lovely sunsets with cacti and a silhouette of Camelback Mountain in the background of Phoenix, it's easy to think that life should always be so picturesque. But the reality is that it’s not. Trauma happens. But the wonderful, amazing thing is that healing can happen too. There are so many paths to healing, which is fitting because we are all different as human beings, and what we will need in our healing journey will also differ. Don’t get me wrong, as an EMDR therapy provider here in Phoenix, I am partial, as I love EMDR work and have seen what great things it can do. But as a human being and therapist who genuinely wants everyone to find the right healing type, I know there is a bigger picture.
Embarking on a therapeutic journey can be exciting and nerve-wracking, especially when considering EMDR therapy as a potential path to healing. EMDR, short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an innovative approach that has gained recognition for its effectiveness in treating trauma-related issues. But what exactly can you expect from EMDR therapy? In this blog post, I’d like to share some information about the world of EMDR therapy, exploring what the process entails and how the three prongs of EMDR play a vital role in guiding the healing journey. So, grab a cup of coffee and get ready to demystify EMDR!
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Understanding EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy is an evidence-based therapeutic modality developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro. It was initially designed to help individuals recover from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by reprocessing traumatic memories and alleviating associated distress. However, EMDR has since been recognized as a powerful tool for addressing various issues, including anxiety, depression, phobias, etc.
Some common questions I hear from someone looking into EMDR therapy are…
Can I be healed in just a few sessions? The answer to this question is that it depends. It depends on a lot of variables, but the first and foremost is how much trauma there has been that you want to work through. Are you coming in after experiencing something that is a single incident? Or have you experienced a lifetime of traumas, big or small, that have impacted the way you view yourself and the world around you? It also depends on your resources, how supported you feel daily, and how stable your life feels in the present moment. All of this lends itself to the process and how long therapy may take. Finding the right EMDR therapy provider is also essential, as you need to feel like you click with that person and like you can open up.
Is EMDR therapy like hypnosis? No, hypnosis focuses on putting you into a type of trance, were as in EMDR therapy, our goal is for you to be present in the room with me but also have a foot in the memory that has impacted your beliefs. The goal is for you to be present and aware the whole time.
I hate the idea of re-hashing every traumatic thing that has ever happened. Is this what EMDR therapy will be like? EMDR therapy is quite different from typical talk therapy; we have focused goals on what we are trying to accomplish rather than the murky waters that can be talk therapy. In the standard protocol of EMDR therapy, after ensuring you have the coping skills and stability in life, we try to work towards processing the first or the worst memory tied to a negative belief. For instance, if the belief is “I’m not good enough,” we try to find the first time you experienced this belief or the worst time you felt this way. From there, as we can process that one memory successfully, it can often impact other memories, shifting the belief around them into something more adaptive, accurate, and positive.
What to Expect in EMDR Sessions
When starting EMDR therapy with a new client, in the first couple of sessions, we will discuss your current symptoms, the triggers you have been experiencing, and what you want to gain from therapy. My goal is to understand what you’ve been going through, what activates the symptoms that have brought you to treatment, where the roots of these issues may be, and most importantly, where you want to see yourself when therapy is done. This is much like talk therapy; this assessment allows for a tailored approach to meet your specific needs. In subsequent sessions, we dive into the heart of EMDR therapy which is listed below.
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Preparation Phase - The preparation phase focuses on helping us to establish a therapeutic relationship, building trust, and equipping us with coping skills to manage distress during and between sessions. We talk about the process of EMDR therapy and ensure you have a clear understanding, answering questions and concerns you have along the way.
Assessment Phase - During the assessment phase, I work with you to target specific memories or events that contribute to the symptoms that bring you into therapy. These targets could be past traumatic experiences, distressing memories, negative beliefs you are holding about yourself, or triggering situations. By pinpointing these targets, we can we'll work through them systematically in other sessions.
Desensitization and Reprocessing Phase - This is often what most people think of when considering EMDR therapy. In this phase, I guide you through a structured protocol that involves accessing the target memory while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation can be achieved through eye movements, taps, or auditory cues, and it helps facilitate the reprocessing of traumatic memories. As the bilateral stimulation occurs, your brain's natural healing processes are activated, allowing for the integration of previously fragmented information and emotions.
Throughout this phase, you may experience a range of sensations, emotions, and insights. The goal is to desensitize the distress associated with the target memory and reprocess it to diminish its impact on your daily life. I have found in many clients that I have seen that as we work on a memory, processing it with bilateral stimulation, it loses its intensity, and this process can lead to profound shifts in our beliefs, emotions, and overall well-being.
Evaluation Phase - After each set of bilateral stimulation, I will check in with you to assess your level of distress and any changes in thoughts or emotions. This evaluation ensures that the reprocessing is effective and helps determine if additional sets are needed to work towards healing.
This process can span several sessions, months of sessions, to more than that. It depends on how much trauma is present, the therapeutic relationship, and how stable you feel outside the therapy room. Be patient with yourself and the healing process. It’s better to process from a place of regulation than a place of dysregulation that echos the trauma, reinforcing it.
What is the 3-Pronged Protocol, and Why is it Important to Healing?
Outside this standard processing, EMDR therapy functions best on a “3-Pronged Protocol”. The analogy I like to use when explaining this approach is this - if you imagine a string of yarn held up in front of you, and on this string are 3 knots tied about an inch apart. You have the past knot, the present knot, and the future knot. This string represents a particular belief that often manifests as symptoms. For instance, the belief might be that “I’m not safe, and I need to protect myself,” which manifests as intense anxiety, difficulty within relationships, loneliness, and depression.
The past knot is created by the past events that reinforced this belief, which is what we focus on in the Protocol I outlined above; as we work with guided bilateral stimulation, you'll reprocess these memories, allowing for resolution and healing.
The second knot is the present knot which addresses current triggers and challenges that reinforce this belief of unsafety. By building coping skills and developing effective strategies to manage present-day stressors, you can enhance your emotional well-being and feel what it’s like to have a regulated nervous system.
The third knot is about envisioning and planning for a future where this sense of safety is not constantly threatened and you feel secure. This is where we will work to set goals, cultivate positive beliefs, and integrate new ways of thinking and behaving that align with a trusting and empowered sense of self. As we can effectively work through all three knots, we can find new and more accurate beliefs about ourselves and the world around us, which in turn help us move forward into healing.
Conclusion
EMDR Therapy Phoenix - Kandace Ledergerber.
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EMDR therapy offers a unique and transformative approach to healing trauma and addressing other mental health concerns. By understanding the three prongs of EMDR therapy and what to expect in each phase, you can approach your therapeutic journey with confidence and curiosity. Remember, EMDR therapy is a collaborative process, and your therapist will support and guide you every step of the way. EMDR can be very painful, especially without a grounding and therapeutic relationship. That’s why it is so important to be open and honest with your therapist, finding the grounding and coping skills you need at the start as a foundation. It's not just about bringing up old memories and talking about them; it’s about re-processing them and changing the perspective, the belief that's coming from them. So, take a deep breath, trust the process, and embrace the possibilities EMDR therapy can unlock.
If you’re ready to start your EMDR therapy journey here in Phoenix and are looking for a provider, I invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. I am happy to chat and see if I’m the right fit for what you’re looking for, and if I’m not, I’d love to connect with you on the healing path you are searching for. The healing journey is not always easy and hardly linear, but remember that you are worth the process. You deserve to feel better.
