Top 6 Myths about EMDR Therapy Chicago and Virtual EMDR Therapy Online
Therapist Addresses Common Myths and Misconceptions About EMDR Therapy Chicago North Shore and Online
As a certified EMDR psychologist in Chicago and the North Shore who specializes in treating trauma, I am often asked questions about why trauma is so disruptive to the brains and bodies of some individuals, and how to effectively treat trauma to lessen its negative effects.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an impactful therapy method that has gained recognition as an effective treatment for trauma and related disorders. As EMDR’s popularity has continued to soar, I am increasingly confronted with some myths and misconceptions about this cutting-edge treatment approach when discussing trauma treatment options.
Changes in the Understanding and Treatment of Trauma Over Time
It is only in more recent decades that trauma has even been recognized as having the potential to have a lasting impact on an individual’s mind and body. In 1980, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder appeared for the first time in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the handbook used by clinicians to render diagnoses for psychological conditions.
Over the forty-plus years that have followed, the mental health community has continued to strive to better understand trauma and to treat trauma to lessen its far-reaching effects. As research into trauma has continued, it has become increasingly evident that memories of trauma are stored, not just in the thinking centers of the brain, but in deeper emotionally-driven parts of the brain, and in the body systems.
This may help to explain why it doesn’t often work to just try to stop thinking about a traumatic event or experience; the impact of the event may continue to bubble up through dreams, intrusive thoughts, heightened alertness or reactions, and physical symptoms. Likewise, trauma treatments that focus primarily or exclusively on talking about traumatic experiences can be limited because they require an individual to draw only from the thinking part of the brain that focuses on language, and do not always connect to the emotion centers of the brain or to the body to allow for more complete healing.
EMDR Therapy Targets the Thoughts, Emotions, and Physical Reactions Related to Trauma
EMDR is a brain-and-body-based treatment. EMDR therapy uses 8 phases of treatment to connect to the thoughts, emotions, and physiological aspects of events, as well as consider how they fit together with previous or subsequent life experiences. This approach aims to help lessen the intensity of emotional, physiological, and behavioral reactions and complete the processing of trauma to allow for healing. This processing helps experiences to become stored in the memory as events that happened, rather than being triggered as events that are still happening in the present.
Growing Popularity of EMDR Therapy Chicago, Across the Country, and Worldwide
The extensive research support for the effectiveness of EMDR therapy has prompted the American Psychological Association, the World Health Organization, and the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs to all promote EMDR as a leading treatment for trauma and PTSD. EMDR has become an increasingly sought-out treatment approach in recent years, as the public has become more familiar with its use and effectiveness through books like the #1 New York Times Bestseller, The Body Keeps the Score, by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk. Additionally, many celebrities including Prince Harry, Sandra Bullock, and Jameela Jamil have been outspoken about their experiences using EMDR to treat traumas. Popular culture has illustrated how EMDR can be used to help individuals overcome acute and complex traumas on television shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, and The Affair.
Top 6 Myths about EMDR Therapy Chicago and Virtual EMDR Therapy Online
The growth of awareness of EMDR has prompted many questions and has perpetuated some misunderstandings as well. So let’s take a closer look and dispel some of the more commonly held myths about EMDR.
Myth 1: EMDR is Pseudoscience
When EMDR was initially introduced as a treatment protocol in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was met with a fair amount of skepticism within the professional community as well as in the general public. Since that time, rigorous research has been conducted that has demonstrated improvements in symptoms following EMDR therapy that have been maintained over extended follow-up periods (1,2).
In addition, numerous studies involving brain imaging have shown changes in structures in the brain, activation within the brain, and neurological connections within the brain following treatment with EMDR. In simple terms, EMDR has been shown to change the way that the brain responds to traumatic memories and triggers in the environment to reduce hyperarousal which can look like anxiety and PTSD, as well as to reduce hypoarousal which can look like depression and other trauma-related disorders (3,4,5).
Myth 2: EMDR Therapy is All About Eye Movements
EMDR therapy was created by Dr. Francine Shapiro who utilized guided eye movements to support the complete processing of traumatic memories and experiences by stimulating and activating both the left and right hemispheres of the brain (bilateral stimulation) while aspects of traumatic experiences were being called into consciousness.
Over time, this bilateral activation of the left and right sides of the brain has been modified to include other methods such as the use of music or tones alternating into the left and right ears; holding small devices in either hand that can vibrate alternatingly from the left hand to the right hand; guided tapping movements to the right and left sides of the body; and many other approaches to bilateral stimulation. Some people including children, visually-impaired individuals, and autistic or otherwise neurodivergent people may respond more favorably to bilateral stimulation that does not rely on eye movements.
Additionally, although bilateral stimulation and processing is considered by many to be an essential part of EMDR therapy, it is not the only component of EMDR therapy. EMDR is an 8-phase model, with bilateral stimulation occurring only during a subset of the phases.
Prior to starting with eye movements or any other bilateral stimulation, a therapist will take a thorough history to better understand the individual’s concern. The therapist also will strive to develop a connected therapeutic relationship that feels comfortable enough to allow for the exploration of the trauma or traumas.
Before starting any active processing with eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation, it is also important for the therapist to learn more about the internal and external supports that the client has to help them stay regulated, or return to a state of calm as they become emotionally activated through the process, within therapy sessions, and between sessions.
The therapist will work with the client to develop and practice additional skills and strategies to manage thoughts and feelings that may become active throughout the EMDR process so that they do not become overwhelming. The eighth phase of EMDR focuses on noticing how the client responds to active processing and what changes they are noting in their lives.
Myth 3: EMDR Therapy is a Quick Fix
EMDR harnesses the vast and complex connections within the brain to drive insight and promote healing, in ways that may be faster or more efficient than what the client would have achieved through more traditional talk-based therapy. That is not to say that EMDR is a quick fix. As previously outlined, the 8-phase model of EMDR is designed to support the client in processing through their traumas in a way that will be healing, and not so aggressive as to overwhelm them in the process.
Care is taken to move at a pace that honors the client’s needs and resources to support healthy stability throughout the process. The progress and length of treatment are also influenced by the complexity of the client’s trauma experiences. Single-incident traumas such as trauma from a car accident or an assault may be resolved more quickly than complex traumas such as trauma from being raised in an unstable or abusive household. For more information about different types of traumas and how they may affect an individual, this article provides a quick overview.
Myth 4: EMDR Therapy Doesn’t Involve Talking
One of the compelling aspects of EMDR versus more traditional talk-focused therapies is that EMDR uses the interconnection of the brain, body, and emotions to drive insight and healing. This lessens the demand to talk through problems and also paves the way for healing when the person does not quite have the words or the understanding to talk about the full extent of their challenges. EMDR can also be a useful therapy when the person logically understands and can talk about their problems, but can’t seem to change their emotional or physical reactions to triggers. Likewise, if people are uncomfortable or unable to put their experiences into words, EMDR can still allow for exploration, insight, and healing without needing words to lead the way.
That is not to say however that EMDR does not allow for, or benefit from, talking about the insights that come from the EMDR work. It is also often helpful and important to talk about how the individual is responding to EMDR therapy, and what changes they are noticing in their emotions, reactions, or behaviors outside of therapy sessions that may be related to the EMDR work in sessions. Additionally, since trauma is often complex and interwoven into various aspects of a person’s life, talking about these connections as they begin to unwind and become better understood through EMDR work can help to enhance insight and direct the treatment process over time.
Myth 5: Limits of EMDR Therapy for PTSD and Trauma Only
EMDR therapy was initially developed to treat trauma and trauma-related disorders such as PTSD. Over time, EMDR’s potential has been explored to treat a host of other symptoms and disorders including stress, anxiety, panic, phobias, depression, chronic pain, and substance use disorders. Established and emerging research has supported the effectiveness of EMDR for these, and other, applications (6,7,8,9).
Myth 6: You Can’t do Virtual EMDR Therapy Online
Like most therapeutic approaches, EMDR was initially developed to be utilized as a one-on-one, in-person therapy with the individual and the therapist sharing space in the same room. The overwhelming need for trauma processing following large-scale traumatic events drove the adaptation of EMDR protocols to support therapists in guiding EMDR therapy at a greater distance. Dr. Ignacio Jarero is an EMDR therapist credited with developing EMDR to be administered in a group format with the therapist guiding tapping movements that are self-administered by each individual. This protocol, as well as other processes for administering bilateral stimulation from a distance, have been adopted and adapted to allow for EMDR to be supported via telehealth. These modifications have made EMDR more accessible to individuals seeking EMDR as a treatment approach.
When the Covid-19 pandemic drove many therapists to pivot their therapy work to virtual practices, thousands of EMDR therapists worldwide moved to EMDR online, adapting treatment protocols to continue to responsibly and ethically support adherence to EMDR’s 8-phase model.
Research investigating the effectiveness of EMDR online as compared to in-person EMDR has demonstrated the comparable effectiveness of both applications, indicating that virtual EMDR therapy online via telehealth is an effective treatment option (10,11,12). To read more about EMDR therapy online and how to do EMDR virtually, this article explores the topic in greater detail.
Dispelling EMDR Myths and Moving Forward With EMDR Therapy Chicago North Shore or Virtual EMDR Therapy Online
Although the complexities of EMDR as a brain-and-body-based treatment are difficult to distill down into a short article, I hope that addressing some of the common myths about EMDR has helped to reduce confusion and increase access to this treatment approach that has helped countless individuals.
Contact me today for a free 15-minute phone consultation if you have additional questions about EMDR, or if I can be helpful to you as an EMDR therapist in Chicago, along the North Shore, or as an EMDR therapist online across the country via telehealth in over 35 states.
I utilize EMDR in my practice daily to treat stress; anxiety; phobias; PTSD; traumas related to parenting challenges; special needs parent burnout and caregiver burnout; childhood traumas; fertility, prenatal, and birth trauma; trauma from marginalization, and in many other applications. If I am not the right fit for your EMDR therapy needs, I am happy to point you in the direction of resources that may be helpful to you.
(1) 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).
(2) Sepehry, A. A., Lam, K., Sheppard, M., Guirguis-Younger, M., & Maglio, A. S. (2021). EMDR for depression: A meta-analysis and systematic review. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 15(1), 2-17.
(3) Boukezzi, S., El Khoury-Malhame, M., Auzias, G., Reynaud, E., Rousseau, P. F., Richard, E., ... & Khalfa, S. (2017). Grey matter density changes of structures involved in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after recovery following eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 266, 146-152.
(4) Pagani, M., Högberg, G., Fernandez, I., & Siracusano, A. (2013). Correlates of EMDR therapy in functional and structural neuroimaging: A critical summary of recent findings. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 7(1), 29-38.
(5) Santarnecchi, E., Bossini, L., Vatti, G., Fagiolini, A., La Porta, P., Di Lorenzo, G., ... & Rossi, A. (2019). Psychological and brain connectivity changes following trauma-focused CBT and EMDR treatment in single-episode PTSD patients. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 129.
(6) Carletto, S., Oliva, F., Barnato, M., Antonelli, T., Cardia, A., Mazzaferro, P., ... & Pagani, M. (2018). EMDR as add-on treatment for psychiatric and traumatic symptoms in patients with substance use disorder. Frontiers in Psychology, 2333.
(7) Haour, F., Dobbelaere, E., & de Beaurepaire, C. (2019). Scientific Evaluation of EMDR Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Psychological Trauma Summary: Scientific evaluation of EMDR psychotherapy. Journal of Neurology & Neuromedicine, 4(2).
(8) Valiente-Gómez, A., Moreno-Alcázar, A., Treen, D., Cedrón, C., Colom, F., Perez, V., & Amann, B. L. (2017). EMDR beyond PTSD: A systematic literature review. Frontiers in psychology, 8, 1668.
(9) Yunitri, N., Kao, C. C., Chu, H., Voss, J., Chiu, H. L., Liu, D., ... & Chou, K. R. (2020). The effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing toward anxiety disorder: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of psychiatric research, 123, 102-113.
(10) Bongaerts, H., Voorendonk, E. M., van Minnen, A., & de Jongh, A. (2021). Safety and effectiveness of intensive treatment for complex PTSD delivered via home-based telehealth. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12(1), 1860346.
(11) Liou, H., Lane, C., Huang, C., Mookadam, M., Joseph, M., & Hecker DuVal, J. (2022). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in a Primary Care Setting: Assessing Utility and Comparing Efficacy of Virtual Versus In-Person Methods. Telemedicine and e-Health.
(12) Tarquinio, C., Brennstuhl, M. J., Rydberg, J. A., Bassan, F., Peter, L., Tarquinio, C. L., ... & Tarquinio, P. (2020). EMDR in telemental health counseling for healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients: a pilot study. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 42(1), 3-14.
