What is EMDR? A Client's Perspective

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September 7, 8:40 PM

by Ethan Elgin, Mental Health Issues and Rights Examiner

 

 

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For many people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or any number of personality or trauma based disorders, a new type of therapy has emerged as a hopeful alternative in recent years. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an information processing psychotherapy that was developed to resolve symptoms resulting from disturbing and unresolved life experiences.  Containing aspects of many different types of therapy including psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, experiential, and body-centered therapies, has had a very impressive success rates in recent years using double blind placebo studies.

Though still controversial due to its relative newness and lack of long term studies. It is also a very difficult process as it has been known to trigger deep buried traumatic memories and should not be considered unless the client has prepared themselves for exploring these prospects. Due to the fact that some aspects of the therapy involves exposing clients to anxiety eliciting stimuli such as strobe lighting. Though much of the skepticism about the therapy revolves around the fact that many therapists and clients alike tout it as a “miracle” and some even as a “cure”. Whether this is true or not is the subject of much debate for another time.

Though I have worked with many people who have undergone EMDR, one client wished to express how it has worked for them. The following is an interview with a person who has suffered from both Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar for nearly thirty years. All identifying information has been changed and the interview has been conducted with the expressed consent of the said client.

Questions for client undergoing EMDR

Q: How did you hear about EMDR?

A: My talk therapy counselor of 20 years suggested that talking wasn’t working. And said that she thinks I’m ready for EMDR. I said, well, what’s that? (laugh)

Q: In your words, how would you explain EMDR to another person?

A: It has to do with tapping on the knees or listening to music in headphones go back and forth with the sound, stuff like that,  while you talk about important things in your life. And you don’t really realize but something comes to you. It comes from way inside. Something talk therapy could never get out of me. I found myself saying things about myself that I never knew. Things that seem to have been buried for years. And it’s just like a light bulb goes on.

Q: What lead you to choose this form of therapy?

A: Because I was desperate and I would try anything. And if I really didn’t like it, I would quit. But I want to get better. When you want to get better you’ll try anything.

Q: How would you compare this to other forms of therapy?

A: There is no comparison. It’s not like acupuncture, its not like ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy), it’s difficult to explain. It’s almost mystical how it works because I really don’t know. But I found I don’t really need to know how.

Q: What have you found most helpful or not helpful so far? (Positive & negative aspects)

A: You can talk when you want but you can also open up some wounds. You can be in a lot of pain if it’s not closed up.  But you find a place within yourself to be able to deal with these things. It makes it easier to heal outside of the office. It was just getting used to that, because I never dealt with these wounds, never thought about them in different ways after I left the office. You just learn so many different perceptions you never thought you had.

Q: Have you found it has improved your quality of life?

A: Yes, it has, definitely. Everyone in my family has noticed. But it hasn’t changed my life entirely either which is nice.

Q: What significant aspects have you found changed in your life?

A: I think much more of myself. I don’t put myself down as much. I have also found that so much of my trauma wasn’t my fault. I was only a kid. And as much as that little kid is still in there, I learned that that little kid also needs nurturing.

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