Trauma can profoundly affect a person’s emotional well-being and overall life experience. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a specialized treatment designed to help individuals heal from the lasting emotional responses caused by traumatic events. According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, trauma is often the lasting emotional response that results from living through distressing events. These experiences can damage a person’s sense of safety, identity, emotional regulation, and relationships, leaving them to struggle with intense feelings of fear, helplessness, and shame.
What is Trauma and Does Your Experience Qualify?
Some people may question whether their experiences qualify as trauma. In my practice, I believe that trauma is not defined by specific events but by the way those events overwhelm an individual’s ability to cope. If an experience has had a lasting emotional impact and continues to affect your sense of safety or well-being, it is worth considering trauma.
Examples of traumatic experiences include:
- Childhood abuse (physical, emotional, sexual)
- Neglect or bullying
- Sexual assault or partner abuse
- Physical assault or accidents
- Natural disasters
- Loss of a loved one or birth trauma
- Infidelity, and more
It’s not about meeting a specific criteria for trauma, but rather how the experience is stored in the mind and body.
How Trauma Affects Us
When trauma occurs, it can lead to a wide range of challenging symptoms, including:
- Flashbacks and nightmares
- Triggers that lead to emotional distress
- Intrusive thoughts
- Depression and anxiety
- Difficulty in emotional regulation and relationships
While the brain is naturally designed to process difficult experiences, overwhelming events can get “stuck” in the right hemisphere of the brain. This is where EMDR therapy comes in: it helps facilitate the integration of these painful memories, reducing their emotional charge and connecting them to positive, adaptive memories.
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
EMDR therapy is a unique and highly effective approach to processing trauma. The therapy focuses on strengthening positive memories and neural networks, while also helping desensitize distressing memories. One of the defining components of EMDR is the use of bilateral stimulation, often through guided eye movements, which helps the brain process and reframe the traumatic memory.
Does EMDR Really Work?
A common question many individuals have is whether EMDR is truly effective. The answer is supported by a wealth of research. EMDR has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Here are some key findings:
- Multiple meta-analyses (studies that combine data from several sources) have confirmed that EMDR is a highly effective treatment for trauma (Chen et al., 2014; Lee & Cuijpers, 2013).
- For single-incident traumas, EMDR has been shown to eliminate PTSD symptoms in 90-100% of individuals in as few as three to six sessions (Rauthbaum, 1997; Ribchester, Yule, & Duncan, 2010).
- Research has found that EMDR can be as effective as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for treating trauma, with the added benefit of no homework between sessions and less prolonged exposure to traumatic memories (Davidson & Parker, 2001; Ho & Lee, 2012).
- Neurobiological studies have shown that EMDR can result in measurable changes in the brain, such as alterations in cortical and limbic activation patterns, as well as an increase in hippocampal volume, suggesting that traumatic memories are being processed and stored in a healthier way (EMDR Institute, 2021).
Why Choose EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy is not just about addressing symptoms; it’s about achieving true healing. By helping clients process trauma at a deep, emotional level, EMDR fosters long-term emotional resilience, healthier relationships, and a greater sense of safety and self-worth. Clients often find that, through EMDR, they are able to regain control over their emotions, thoughts, and behaviours, which leads to improved quality of life.
References
Bisson, J., Roberts, N.P., Andrew, M., Cooper, R. & Lewis, C. (2013). Psychological therapies for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003388.pub4
Chen, Y. R., Hung, K. W., Tsai, J. C., Chu, H., Chung, M. H., Chen, S. R., … & Chou, K. R. (2014). Efficacy of eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing for patients with posttraumatic-stress disorder: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PloS one, 9(8), e103676.
Davidson, P.R., & Parker, K.C.H. (2001). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): A meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 69, 305-316.
EMDR Institute Inc. (June 11, 2021) Research Overview. www.emdr.com/research-overview
Ho, M. S. K., & Lee, C. W. (2012). Cognitive behaviour therapy versus eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for post-traumatic disorder–is it all in the homework then?. Revue Européenne de Psychologie Appliquée/European Review of Applied Psychology, 62(4), 253-260.
Khan, A. M., Dar, S., Ahmed, R., Bachu, R., Adnan, M., & Kotapati, V. P. (2018). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy versus Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in Patients with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Cureus, 10(9), e3250. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.3250
Konuk, E., Knipe, J., Eke, I., Yuksek, H., Yurtsever, A., & Ostep, S. (2006). The effects of EMDR therapy on post-traumatic stress disorder in survivors of the 1999 Marmara, Turkey, earthquake. International Journal of Stress Management, 13, 291-308.
Lee, C.W., & Cuijpers, P. (2013). A meta-analysis of the contribution of eye movements in processing emotional memories. Journal of Behavior Therapy & Experimental Psychiatry, 44, 231-239.
Marcus, S., Marquis, P. & Sakai, C. (1997). Controlled study of treatment of PTSD using EMDR in an HMO setting. Psychotherapy, 34, 307-315
Maxfield, L., & Hyer, L.A. (2002). The relationship between efficacy and methodology in studies investigating EMDR treatment of PTSD. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58, 23-41
Ribchester, T., Yule, W., & Duncan, A. (2010). EMDR for childhood PTSD after road traffic accidents: Attentional, memory, and attributional processes. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research,4(4), 138-147.
Rothbaum, B. (1997). A controlled study of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disordered sexual assault victims. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 61, 317-334.
Schwartz, A. (October 10, 2017) How does EMDR Therapy Work? Arielle Schwartz. https://drarielleschwartz.com/how-does-emdr-therapy-work-dr-arielle-schwartz/
Seidler, G.H., & Wagner, F.E. (2006). Comparing the efficacy of EMDR and trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of PTSD: a meta-analytic study. Psychological Medicine, 36,1515-1522.
Shapiro, F. (2001). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic principals, protocols and procedures. The Guilford Press
Watts, B.V. et al. (2013). Meta-analysis of the efficacy of treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 74, e541-550. doi: 10.4088/JCP.12r08225
About Clare Pentelow: Your Trusted EMDR Therapist
Clare Pentelow, MSW, RSW, is a compassionate and experienced counselor in the Kitchener-Waterloo area with over 10 years of experience in mental health. Clare has been using EMDR to support clients in healing from trauma for over five years and has seen firsthand the powerful changes this therapy can bring. With a deep understanding of both the science and the personal impact of trauma, Clare provides a safe, supportive space for clients to engage in the healing process and move toward their goals of recovery.