Among the wide range of mental health treatments available, there's a growing recognition of the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in helping individuals heal from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In fact, EMDR therapy has been verified by extensive research and countless success stories since 1990.  

According to the EMDR Institute, more than 30 positive controlled outcome studies have been conducted on EMDR therapy. Studies show that 84-90% of single-trauma victims no longer had post-traumatic stress disorder after three 90-minute sessions. Another study, funded by Kaiser Permanente, found that 100% of single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims no longer were diagnosed with PTSD after six 50-minute sessions. Another study showed that 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD symptoms in 12 sessions.

As a result, EMDR has been recognized as an effective treatment for PTSD by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the World Health Organization.

If you reside in Massachusetts or Rhode Island, The Psyched Group has a team of expert therapists ready to help guide you through your healing journey from trauma or PTSD.

How does EMDR work?

EMDR is a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories. Much like the body recovers from physical trauma, EMDR therapy shows that the mind can heal from psychological trauma. It is grounded in the idea that traumatic experiences can become "stuck" in the brain's memory networks, leading to ongoing emotional and psychological distress. EMDR therapy can help process these memories in a way that reduces emotional intensity and allows for healing.

The brain's information processing system naturally moves toward mental well-being. However, when this system is blocked or imbalanced by the effects of trauma, emotional wounds can linger, resulting in symptoms from mild to debilitating. Once the block is removed, the healing process can resume.

In EMDR therapy, eye movements are used to engage the client’s attention to an external stimulus, while the client is simultaneously focusing on internal stressors. When an individual recalls a traumatic event while engaging in eye movements, it diminishes the intensity of the mental images associated with that memory. This is because the act of moving the eyes in an incongruent manner decreases the vividness of mental imagery.

What defines a trauma?

Understanding the nature of trauma is essential for recognizing its impact. EMDR therapy has been effective in treating a wide range of traumas and can be adapted to address a wide range of traumatic experiences, including veterans and military personnel who have experienced combat-related trauma, individuals who have survived natural disasters or a significant loss as in the death of a loved one, or survivors of abuse, including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.

Though psychological trauma and PTSD can also result for those suffering from:

• Medical or health trauma, resulting from medical procedures, surgeries, or serious illnesses
• Cultural trauma, experienced by communities or cultural groups as a result of discrimination
• Financial trauma, resulting from financial hardship or economic instability, including bankruptcy, foreclosure, and job loss
• Religious trauma, resulting from religious indoctrination or rejection leading to feelings of guilt and shame
• Technology-related trauma from incidents such as cyberattacks, data breaches, or online harassment
• Persistent bullying, whether in person or online, under a variety of circumstances
  
• These types of incidents can have profound psychological effects, leading to symptoms of PTSD and other mental health issues. Clearly, trauma can manifest in many different forms and contexts, and each person's experience is unique due to several factors.

Traumatic events can vary widely in type, severity, and duration. What constitutes a traumatic experience for one person may not have the same impact on another. Additionally, individual perceptions of the event, as well as the circumstances surrounding it, can influence how it is processed and experienced.

An individual's personal history, including past experiences of trauma, attachment style, and coping mechanisms, as well as personality traits also shape how someone responds to traumatic events. Past trauma can compound the effects of new traumatic experiences and increase the development of PTSD symptoms. Further, the presence or absence of social support systems, such as family, friends, and community, can also significantly influence an individual's personal experience and effects of trauma as well as recovery from PTSD.

What’s an EMDR session like?

During an EMDR session, which can take place in-person or virtually, the therapist guides the client through a series of structured protocols that involve recalling distressing memories while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation. This can take various forms, such as following the therapist's hand movements with their eyes, listening to alternating sounds, or feeling tactile sensations through hand taps. The goal is to facilitate the brain's natural processing of these memories, allowing for adaptive resolution.

Imagine you're sitting in a cozy therapy room at The Psyched Group or in the comfort of your own home in a remote session, your EMDR therapist guiding you through the process. You close your eyes as you recall a distressing memory from your past, feeling the emotions and physical sensations that arise. You are supported. Meanwhile, the therapist prompts you to focus on their hand movements, gently guiding your eyes back and forth. As you continue, you may notice the intensity of the memory starting to diminish, replaced by a sense of calm.

Unlike talk therapy, insights that clients usually gain in EMDR therapy result not so much from the therapist’s interpretation, but from the client’s own accelerated intellectual and emotional processes.

Schedule an EMDR therapy session today

If you're struggling with trauma or PTSD, EMDR therapy can offer a path toward healing and recovery. Whether you're located in Rhode Island or Massachusetts, The Psyched Group is ready to support you on your journey. EMDR is typically delivered one to two times per week for a total of 6-12 sessions, although some people benefit from fewer sessions or require more in severe cases.

Reach out today to schedule a consultation with one of our expert therapists and take the first step. The Psyched Group has several therapists available virtually throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island who are certified in EMDR.

To find a Psyched therapist, go here.