Is EMDR Right for Everyone?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is a highly effective approach for treating trauma. But it's not right for everyone. There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. If you're considering working with an EMDR therapist as a part of your healing journey, you should assess whether it's the right fit for you.
Understanding EMDR Therapy
EMDR is a structured therapy that involves processing traumatic memories with a highly trained trauma therapist. There are 8 phases. The phases that get all the attention use bilateral stimulation to help memory reprocessing. Bilateral stimulation can include eye movements, sounds, or tactile sensations. But there's a lot more to EMDR than just the bilateral stimulation. When done well, EMDR therapy includes extensive preparation to help you tolerate uncomfortable memories.
When EMDR is successful, a person can think about the trauma without feeling disturbed. That doesn't mean they're fine with what happened. But it does mean they've moved on and freed themselves from it.
Considerations And Ruleouts For EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapist Alexis Bibler, AMFT, listening to a client go through their trauma history in preparation for EMDR processing.
Assessing Trauma History For EMDR Therapy
EMDR is particularly effective for individuals who have experienced single-incident traumas. These might include accidents, assaults, or natural disasters. You're more likely to experience a quick resolution with a single incident trauma. But sometimes a trauma might seem like a one-off when it's actually part of a complex web of traumas.
EMDR therapy can also be suitable for people with repeated or complex traumas. Treating complex trauma takes time, even with EMDR therapy. In these cases, you should have adequate stabilization and coping skills. More about that later...
Don't worry about assessing your own trauma history too much. Your EMDR therapist should do most of that for you. But it's important to keep in mind that complex or relational traumas take longer to process.
Identifying PTSD and Related Conditions
EMDR therapy is often recommended for people diagnosed with PTSD. But it can also be beneficial for those struggling with acute stress disorder, phobias, or anxiety stemming from trauma. It can even help people who have had traumatic attachment wounds, like bad breakups, divorces, or sudden losses. If you're looking to use EMDR therapy for attachment issues, know that treatment will likely take time.
Stabilization and Preparation For EMDR Therapy
Alexis Bibler, AMFT
Alexis is an EMDR therapist working with adults and teens in California. She emphasizes resourcing and preparation before trauma processing to help clients have the best possible EMDR therapy outcomes.
EMDR therapy can be intense. It involves revisiting disturbing experiences for long periods of time. People considering EMDR should have a certain level of emotional stability and coping skills. If you don't, that's okay. Just be sure your EMDR therapist spends times on stabilization techniques to ensure you are prepared for the process. Feel free to ask your EMDR therapist about how they help resource their clients. If they don't know what you mean, they may not be well-trained.
Medical Considerations For EMDR Therapy
Laurel Roberts-Meese, LMFT
Laurel is an EMDR therapist working with adults in California & Florida. She loves working with lawyers and other driven professionals who just want to get back to their full capacity.
Certain medical and psychological conditions may affect your eligibility for EMDR therapy. For example, those with certain visual triggers for seizures might not be a good fit for visual bilateral stimulation. But audio or tactile approaches could work well.
It's also essential to discuss any pre-existing conditions, including pregnancy, with your EMDR therapist. They may want to consult with your medical providers to collaboratively determine whether EMDR is safe for you.
Psychological Considerations For EMDR Therapy
Before starting EMDR therapy, you should consider if you're ready to face the trauma you experienced. A good EMDR therapist will help you get ready with specific tools and techniques. But if you're not open to the process, it's unlikely to work. We don't want you to put in partial effort because we know that's unlikely to get results. You can read more about reasons EMDR doesn't work here.
Neurodivergence and EMDR Therapy
Many people wonder if people with autism, ADHD, and other flavors of neurodivergence can benefit from EMDR therapy. The short answer is it depends. Autism and ADHD are incredibly diverse in their presentation, and some neurodiverse people respond very well to EMDR therapy. Others, particularly those who struggle with abstraction, may need additional supports to benefit from EMDR. Some may not take well to the modality at all. At our practice, we welcome neurodiverse people who are interested in EMDR therapy and love to help them determine the best course of treatment.
Pregnancy and EMDR Therapy
Because EMDR therapy can be emotionally intense, the stage and health of your pregnancy should be taken into account before engaging in any kind of trauma processing. At our practice, we always consult with your obstetrician before starting EMDR therapy to keep both you and your baby safe. If you have complications or are close to delivery, EMDR therapy may not be a good idea until after you give birth.
Dealing With Dissociation In EMDR Therapy
Dissociation is often treated as a dirty word. We believe that it's simply an adaptive coping strategy. When things are overwhelming, it makes sense that your brain would decide to check out. We never want to shame someone for dissociating.
That said, dissociation can make EMDR challenging. EMDR requires you to sit with upsetting memories for medium to long periods of time. For some, that's a tall order. If you struggle with dissociation, you might need to spend some time working on that with your EMDR therapist before you can start EMDR therapy.
Working with an EMDR Therapist
Selecting a qualified EMDR therapist is important. We've heard a few stories about other therapists rushing through or skipping the preparation part of EMDR. Even if you want to feel better quickly, don't skip preparation! Your therapist should conduct a thorough assessment to determine your suitability for EMDR therapy. They will consider your specific circumstances, needs, and goals to create a tailored treatment plan. If they don't do that, that's a red flag.
Alternatives and Complementary Therapies To EMDR
If EMDR therapy is not the best fit for you, there are alternative therapies that may be more suitable. These can include trauma informed cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), talk therapy, mindfulness practices, or somatic experiencing. There is also growing evidence that arts-based and expressive practices can help heal trauma.
It's also possible that your EMDR therapist will recommend a longer resourcing phase to prepare you for processing.
Does Online EMDR Work?
It does! We've got lots to say about the effectiveness of online EMDR here. So long as you have a great relationship with your therapist and your therapist has been well-trained, online EMDR works. That said, you might not be a good candidate for online EMDR if you don't have privacy or a good internet connection.
Healing Through EMDR Therapy
EMDR can be a transformative healing journey for many people who have experienced trauma. However, it's not the right choice for everyone. Assessing your suitability for EMDR therapy is a crucial step to ensure that you receive the best care. If you're considering EMDR, reach out to a qualified therapist. They'll guide you through the assessment process and help you make an informed decision about your healing path.
EMDR Therapy Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Throughout California & Florida
Ready to explore EMDR therapy in Los Angeles for yourself or your teen? Our experienced therapists offer personalized online EMDR sessions tailored to your needs. Whether you're coping with trauma, PTSD, or related conditions, we're here to support your healing journey. Contact us today to learn more and schedule your appointment.
