EMDR Therapy
What Is Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)?
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that alleviates the distress associated with traumatic memories. Developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR involves a counsellor or psychologist guiding you through and recalling distressing memories while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation. This term refers to the process of stimulating both sides of the brain, typically through guided eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones, to help process the traumatic memories.
EMDR therapy reduces the emotional intensity of traumatic memories, reducing the impact it has on the person and to help them manage their emotions in a better state. It demonstrates that the mind can gradually heal from psychological trauma.
At New Leaf, our qualified counsellors are experienced EMDR Therapy practitioners and offer trauma-informed, confidential sessions that enable you to safely explore triggering memories as you reprogram your emotional associations and heal from past events.
What Conditions EMDR Therapy Can Be Treated?
EMDR therapy looks at how unprocessed traumatic memories can become “stuck” in a person’s brain, manifesting as “emotional and psychological stress.” Those who have experienced trauma may unconsciously return to past traumatic events in search of answers, resulting in the repetitive “stuck” feeling and emotional dysregulation.
Through EMDR therapy, you are empowered to process the traumatic memories and reduce the distress you are feeling. This reduction in emotional intensity of traumatic memories makes them less upsetting, giving you the control to manage and integrate them more healthily.
As such, EMDR therapy can help you to manage:
- Anxiety disorders.
- Depression.
- Grief and loss.
- Eating disorders.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorders.
- Personality disorders
- Mental or emotional trauma.
- Moving on from domestic violence.
Whether you are dealing with anxiety or depression or want to improve your self-esteem, EMDR can be highly effective as part of your mental health treatment plan.
Phases Of EMDR Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy designed to help people heal from traumatic experiences or distressing memories. Here’s how it works in simple terms:
Addressing Stuck Memories:
Sometimes, when something traumatic happens, the brain struggles to process it fully. This leaves the memory “stuck,” causing ongoing stress, anxiety, or other negative emotions.
Using Eye Movements:
During EMDR, a therapist guides you to recall the distressing memory while following a moving object with your eyes (like a finger or light). This back-and-forth movement helps the brain process the memory.
Reducing Emotional Charge:
As the memory is processed, it becomes less upsetting. You still remember what happened, but it feels less intense and no longer controls your thoughts or emotions.
Building Resilience:
The therapist also helps you reframe negative beliefs tied to the memory, replacing them with healthier, more positive ones.
EMDR is a safe and effective way to heal from trauma, often leading to relief in fewer sessions compared to traditional talk therapy.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy grounded in neuroscience, designed to help individuals process and heal from trauma. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, to engage both brain hemispheres. This process activates key areas, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, allowing clients to reprocess distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity. EMDR is effective for treating PTSD, anxiety, and phobias, enabling clients to replace negative beliefs with healthier perspectives.
What Are The Benefits Of EMDR?
EMDR is effective for individuals with PTSD and can also provide significant benefits for those with anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, and complex trauma.
That said, it isn’t just for trauma survivors—anyone feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck in old patterns can benefit. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety or depression or just want to improve your self-esteem, EMDR can be extremely effective as part of your holistic treatment plan.
EMDR often provides faster symptom relief than traditional therapies. It helps you process traumatic memories in a safe and trauma-informed environment, leading to improved emotional regulation and reduced anxiety and depression.
As it incorporates guided eye movements, EMDR can be easier for some clients than traditional talk therapy, as it works on a subconscious level to reprogram emotional associations.
Research supports the effectiveness of EMDR therapy, showing overall improvements in clients’ mental health and quality of life after receiving the therapy. EMDR also boosts positive self-belief and enhances self-esteem.
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
1. The Initial Session
The initial EMDR therapy session is for the counsellor to understand your background, establish a safe and trusting environment, and explain the EMDR process. Some basic bilateral stimulation techniques may be introduced in the first session to familiarise you with the process, but full trauma processing usually begins in later sessions.
2. Identifying Target Memories
In the following sessions, you’ll work with your counsellor to collectively identify the specific memory to target, along with its associated negative beliefs, emotions, and physical sensations. The counsellor then guides you to focus on this memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, which reduces distress.
3. Reprocessing and Replacing Negative Beliefs
After targeting the memory, the counsellor helps you strengthen positive beliefs to replace the negative ones associated with it. Often, the session concludes with a mental body scan, where you identify and process any residual physical tension linked to the memory before the session ends.
4. Follow Up
Finally, the counsellor ensures you feel stable before leaving the session, using relaxation techniques and stress management tactics if needed. The counsellor will assess your progress at the start of follow-up sessions and decide if additional processing is required.
If you or someone you know could benefit from EMDR Therapy in Singapore, our experienced counsellors are here to help. Contact us today to learn more and schedule an appointment here.
Does EMDR Therapy Work?
EMDR is not just effective, it’s a beacon of hope for individuals struggling with PTSD, anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, and complex trauma. It’s an evidence-based therapy that has helped many manage and overcome trauma and other mental conditions, offering a path to a brighter future.
EMDR often provides faster symptom relief than traditional therapies, allowing you to process traumatic memories in a safe and trauma-informed environment. As a result, you can gradually enjoy improved emotional regulation while reducing anxiety, depression and other symptoms to help you take back control of your general well-being.
Moreover, EMDR incorporates guided eye movements, making it easier for some clients than traditional talk therapy. It works subconsciously to reprogram emotional associations to enhance one’s quality of life.
How Much Does EMDR Therapy Cost?
At New Leaf, we offer 60-minute and 90-minute counselling sessions at fixed rates based on your choice of counsellor or psychologist. We use a thorough process to match you with the most qualified professional to assist. Rates are based on whether you book an appointment during or after office hours, so we advise planning for your convenience. Visit our fees and terms page for more information.
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FAQs About EMDR Therapy
Q: How often should I undergo EMDR therapy?
A: The general recommendation is one session a week, but you should determine what works best for you with the support of our counsellors or psychologists. It is vital to note that EMDR therapy is not a “one-session cure.” Depending on your current condition, you may require additional EMDR therapy to help one overcome difficulties.
Q: Can I rely on EMDR therapy to treat panic disorders?
A: Current research indicates that EMDR therapy is best employed for treating anxiety disorders that “follow a traumatic experience” one experienced and less so “for those of unknown onset.” However, this may still change over time as more clinical research helps to uncover how EMDR therapy can benefit in treating panic disorders, including considering “clinical utility.”
Q: Are follow-up sessions necessary for EMDR therapy?
A: Yes, follow-ups can help one to maintain the beneficial effects of EMDR therapy. Your counsellor or psychologist will also help you track your progress and use that as a motivational point to keep you on the right track.
What is EMDR? (2024) EMDR Institute – EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITIZATION AND REPROCESSING THERAPY. Available at: https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/ (Accessed: Summer 2024).
What is EMDR therapy and why is it used to treat PTSD? (2023) American Psychological Association. Available at: https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/emdr-therapy-ptsd (Accessed: Summer 2024).
Wilson, G. et al. (2018) ‘The use of eye-movement desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in treating post-traumatic stress disorder—a systematic narrative review’, Frontiers in Psychology, 9. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00923.
American Psychological Association. (2023). What is EMDR therapy, and why is it used to treat PTSD? Retrieved 23rd December 2024 from https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/emdr-therapy-ptsd
American Psychological Association. (2017). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. Retrieved 23rd December 2024 from https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing
Begum, J. (2023). EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Retrieved 23rd December 2024 from https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/emdr-what-is-it
Cleveland Clinic. (2022). EMDR Therapy. Retrieved 23rd December 2024 from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22641-emdr-therapy
EMDR Institute, Inc. (n.d.). What is EMDR Therapy? Retrieved 23rd December 2024 from https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/
EMDR International Association. (n.d.). About EMDR Therapy. Retrieved 23rd December 2024 from https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/
Wilson, G. et al. (2018). The use of eye-movement desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in treating post-traumatic stress disorder—a systematic narrative review. Frontiers in Psychology (9). doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00923.
Meet Our Practitioners Specialising In EMDR Therapy
Fiona Maher O'Sullivan
Counsellor, Speakers
Vivien Tay
Counsellor
