Understanding EMDR
What is EMDR? How it works and how can you get started.
Mental health challenges can affect anyone, regardless of background or life experiences. Many individuals struggle with anxiety, trauma, burnout, or emotional distress that can impact their daily lives. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is one evidence-based treatment approach I use in therapy sessions to help expats process and overcome traumatic experiences.
EMDR is an extensively researched therapy approach and I have found it is particularly effective for those dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and unresolved emotional pain. Below is a brief guide on how EMDR therapy works, its benefits, and what you can expect from an EMDR-based session.
How does EMDR therapy work?
Desensitisation and reprocessing are the two key goals of EMDR therapy. But how are they achieved? First let me quickly explain the nature of a traumatic memory compared to a ‘bad memory’.
A bad memory is a temporary recollection that is unpleasant but fleeting and does not come with enduring psychological distress.
In contrast, a traumatic memory is recurring and brings back the emotions and sensations of the original event, almost like reliving it. Reminders or triggers can evoke the same distress, leading people to avoid them in an attempt to escape the pain.
While avoidance may provide short-term relief, it ultimately strengthens the memory’s power, making the emotions and sensations even more overwhelming. This, in turn, increases the urge to avoid it further, creating a cycle that perpetuates the distress and its associated problems.
Another key difference between traumatic and bad memories is that traumatic memories leave a lasting negative impression. This impression can be difficult to articulate but often takes the form of an unhelpful view of yourself, the world, others, or the future.
Until resolved, this negative impression can shape your life in harmful ways, such as anxiety, phobias, unhelpful patterns of behaviour, social withdrawal, and addiction. Confronting the memory is challenging, as the pain associated with the memory often leads to avoidance, making it even harder to process and move forward.
All effective trauma therapies aim to achieve two key objectives: desensitizing people to the traumatic memory and reshaping their perspective in a more helpful way.
In an EMDR therapy session, I ask my client to focus on the upsetting memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation. This stimulation can take many forms, such as following my finger or a pen moving left and right in front of them. It’s the combination of memory focus and bilateral stimulation that leads to the rapid desensitization of the memory. Only once someone has been desensitized can they view the memory from a fresh perspective, achieving the second goal—resolving the lasting negative impression it left. This reprocessing is at the heart of EMDR, as reflected in the “R,” which stands for reprocessing—looking at the memory in a new way.
Evidence suggests that EMDR can be effective through both online and in-person therapy sessions.
Who Can Benefit from EMDR Therapy?
Mental health challenges affect people from all walks of life. Some of the most common reasons people seek EMDR therapy include:
- Traumatic experiences – Accidents, loss, abuse, or major life changes.
- Chronic stress and anxiety – Ongoing worry, intrusive thoughts, or emotional exhaustion.
- Low self-esteem – Struggling with negative self-perceptions and self-doubt.
- Work-related stress and burnout – High-pressure careers, workplace challenges, and performance anxiety.
- Depression and emotional numbness – A persistent sense of sadness, detachment, or feeling stuck.
How to Get Started with EMDR Therapy
If you’re considering EMDR therapy or you need some mental health and mental fitness support, here’s how you can begin:
- Schedule a consult – Contact me to book a session and if you’re new to Adam Harris Psychology, Amsterdam, book a free 10-15 minute introduction call.
- Discuss your needs – Share your experiences, and I will assess if EMDR is right for you. All therapy sessions I conduct are in English and we can meet face-to-face or online.
- Ongoing support – We will continue working through past trauma with my guidance and support.
Mental health challenges don’t have to define your life. EMDR therapy is one evidence-based mental health therapy technique that can help individuals process past experiences, reduce anxiety, and enhance overall well-being. If you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to seek support.
Reach out to book a consultation and take the first step towards a healthier, happier life.