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What is the Goal of the EMDR Method? The EMDR clinical goal is to
achieve the most profound and comprehensive treatment effects within
the shortest time possible while maintaining a stable client within
a stable system.
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a complex,
eight-phase methodology and approach to the treatment of trauma that
integrates the salient aspects of most therapeutic modalities. When
incorporated into a comprehensive treatment plan, EMDR accelerates
the treatment of pathologies based on disturbing life experiences.
Successful EMDR treatment is far more than mere desensitization,
which enables clients to feel less anxious about traumatic events.
EMDR is a complete processing of the target traumata. Treatment
outcomes include a more adaptive emotional state, a new cognitive
perspective that includes the integration of insights and
recognition of life patterns that can guide client's future actions,
the adoption of useful behaviors, and the enhancement of a
generalized sense of self-efficacy.
What Role Do Eye Movements Play?
Eye movements, or other alternating left-right stimulations, such
as hand taps or audio tones, are only one component of the EMDR
method. Although the eye movements assist in activating disturbing
material and its processing, the movements alone are insufficient
for complete resolution of the problem. Research has shown that the
additional procedural elements are necessary for complete treatment
effects.
How Long is a Typical EMDR Session?
The initial history-taking should be done in a separate 50-minute
session. Often subsequent sessions using EMDR require 90 minutes to
allow the most distressing aspects of a memory to be adequately
addressed.
What is the Client's Role?
EMDR appears to unblock the information processing system
naturally inherent in clients. EMDR stimulates clients' natural
healing processes, allowing disturbing events to be "digested" so
that the lessons they have to offer are learned. The unnecessary and
detrimental emotional elements of traumatic events such as fear and
shame, are discarded. Individual clients' healing processes direct
the chains of association and form of resolution.
What is the Clinician's Role?
EMDR clinicians are trained in how to select clients appropriate
for the EMDR method. Also, they learn about what to do if processing
gets stuck and how to facilitate client response during the
extremely rapid processing effects that characterize most EMDR
sessions. Clinicians need to be trained in the content area related
to individual client problems. EMDR is not a replacement for solid
clinical skills.
http://www.healingartscenter.com/Library/articles/art06.htm |
