What is EMDR?

Phase 1: History and Treatment Planning

Duration: Generally 1-2 sessions

The therapist takes a thorough history and develops a treatment plan. This includes discussion of the specific problem, behaviors, and symptoms. The therapist identifies specific targets: past events that created the problem, present situations causing distress, and key skills needed for future well-being.

Note: You don't have to discuss disturbing memories in detail. General information is sufficient for targeting.

Phase 2: Preparation

Duration: 1-4 sessions (longer for severely traumatized clients)

The clinician teaches specific techniques to rapidly deal with emotional disturbance. This phase establishes trust between client and therapist, explains EMDR theory and process, and teaches relaxation techniques for self-calming.

Phase 3: Assessment

The client selects a specific picture/scene from the target event, chooses a negative self-belief statement, and picks a positive self-statement they'd rather believe. The client rates how true the positive belief feels using the Validity of Cognition (VOC) scale (1-7) and rates disturbance using the Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD) scale (0-10).

Phase 4: Desensitization

Duration: Generally 3 sessions for single trauma

Focuses on disturbing emotions and sensations. The therapist leads the person through sets of eye movements (or other stimulation) until SUD levels are reduced to zero (or 1-2 if more appropriate). This phase allows identification and resolution of similar associated events.

Phase 5: Installation

Concentrates on increasing the strength of the positive belief identified to replace the original negative belief. The goal is for the person to accept the full truth of their positive self-statement at a level of 7 (completely true) on the VOC scale.

Phase 6: Body Scan

After the positive cognition is strengthened, the therapist asks the person to notice any residual tension in their body while bringing the original target to mind. Any physical sensations are targeted for reprocessing. An EMDR session isn't considered successful until the client can recall the original target without feeling body tension.

Phase 7: Closure

Ends every treatment session ensuring the person leaves feeling better than when they arrived. If processing isn't complete in one session, the therapist assists with self-calming techniques. The client is briefed on what to expect between sessions and given techniques for self-care.

Phase 8: Reevaluation

Opens every new session checking that positive results have been maintained, identifies new areas needing treatment, and continues reprocessing additional targets. This phase is vital for determining treatment success over time.