What to Expect in Your First EMDR Session/s

New to EMDR?

Here are some things that are great to know right off the bat:

• As a client, you can't do EMDR wrong

• The eye-movements and reprocessing won't be a part of your first session/s

• You won't have to share a lot of detail about past traumas

  
  

  A Step-by-Step for the Initial Sessions

  
  

  We will:

  
  

• Discuss what brought you in to see me & therapy goals

• Discuss your relevant history

• Discuss & expand on your understanding of EMDR

• Explore your resources and coping strategies

  • (e.g., who are your supports, what do you do for fun and relaxation?)

• Discuss 'negative beliefs' connected to your symptoms

  • (e.g., I am powerless, I am invisible)

• Discuss what you would prefer to believe about yourself or the world

  • (e.g., I am safe now, I am good enough just as I am)

• Decide on a treatment plan together

  • (e.g., what we will target first)

SOME COMMON CONCERNS:

The "eye movement" part sounds a bit out there

• This is a really common concern, it can sound quite foreign and unfamiliar.

• The eye movement part uses a process that your brain already naturally does when you are dreaming (during REM, or Rapid Eye Movement sleep).

• The eye movements are used to distract the brain a little bit so that it can do its job, and not focus too much on the feelings connected to your past events.

  
  

  Is EMDR mind control?

  
  

• In short, no

• You will remain conscious, in control and aware of your experiences

• The therapist is there to help facilitate the experience, but not to shape it

• It is actually quite a hands off therapy, where your brain is given the space to process information as it needs to.

• There is only minor intervention from the therapist if you become stuck or overwhelmed

  
  

  What level of detail will I need to give about my experiences?

  
  

• A basic summary - like a headline - of what kind of experience, memory or symptom you want to address

• How long ago it happened / started

• How old you were

• We will discuss associated emotions and body sensations (e.g., "as I think about this my neck feels tense")

  
  

  What if I get overwhelmed? Is there a 'stop' button?

  
  

• Absolutely, yes

• You will be awake and conscious at all times

• We will discuss verbal and non verbal cues you can use to pause the session at any time

• This process will be as collaborative as we can both make it, with as much power and control in your hands as possible

• I will also be looking for signals that your nervous system is overwhelmed and can help you to manage this if it comes up

  
  

  How will the eye movements (or tapping / sounds) actually help my brain process these memories?

  
  

• The bilateral stimulation (eye movements / tapping / sounds), occupy your working memory

• The idea is that if you think about something traumatic while your working memory is busy, your brain won't be able to conjure up the same intense feelings connected to your past events

• Your brain will now be free to kick start its natural memory processing procedures

• The traumatic memory / connected memories / images / feelings / sensations can now be re-processed as 'normal' memories

• See this blog for more information

  
  

  What will I likely experience during the processing?

  
  

• This is different for everyone

• I will instruct you to "just notice" whatever images, thoughts, feelings and sensations come up for you

• It is likely that some unpleasant feelings and sensations will come up while we are doing the re-processing

• This is completely normal but I will be there to help you through it

• This can feel intense but is likely to pass quite quickly

  
  

  How will I feel after the session?

  
  

• You will likely feel tired after the session (your brain has been working hard)

• This will probably be most noticeable in the hour or two after the session

• You might have emotions and sensations come up that are connected to the experience

• You might feel some temporary increase in anxiety

• Light-headedness and headaches are possible

• You might have vivid dreams

• Symptoms could continue for a couple of days

  
  

  Will it make things worse?

  
  

• This is a common fear

• As above, people can feel some heightened emotion for short time periods

• This can be a sign that your nervous system feels safe enough to process your traumatic memories, or at least some parts of them

• Therapy and reprocessing will move carefully, at a pace in keeping with your comfort and readiness levels

• You will be supported in grounding techniques and management of difficult emotions

  
  

  **Please note, for people with an extensive trauma history, EMDR could potentially overwhelm the system if reprocessing is used:

  • too early

  • before enough resources and coping strategies have been 'installed'

• before a strong relationship and rapport is established with your therapist

  
  

  How many sessions do people typically need to see a difference with EMDR?

  
  

• This is very individual

• It will depend on a few things, such as how deep seated the trauma is - how early it started, how intense it was, what resources you have now

• Many people have reported a shift in symptoms, or some symptom relief within a few processing sessions