5 Common Myths About EMDR Therapy Debunked

As you know, humans are complex individuals. Each person is unique, and they have their own likes, dislikes, interests, hobbies, passions, skills, and more. No two people are exactly the same. Even siblings or twins will have life experiences that won’t mirror another family member.

This is why therapy approaches aren’t a one-size-fits-all approach. There are many types of therapy options depending on a person’s experiences, medical history, needs, wants, and overall treatment goals.

EMDR is one of the many different psychotherapy options. It stands for eye movement desensitization and processing. EMDR is a therapy technique that assists individuals in processing traumatic memories and healing from any distressing life events or experiences.

EMDR isn’t as common as other traditional forms of talk therapy, so there are many misconceptions about it. Let’s debunk 5 common myths about EMDR therapy.

1. It Only Works for PTSD.

While EMDR is extremely beneficial for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD is not the only diagnosis that EMDR can help with. This therapy approach is well-suited for assisting the brain in processing all types of traumatic memories, not just specific PTSD. Not all traumatic events or experiences can result in an individual developing PTSD. Regardless of whether you have PTSD or are struggling with the aftermath of a traumatic event, EMDR can be beneficial in helping you work through those various signs and symptoms.

2. It’s Hypnosis.

A common misconception about EMDR is that people assume it’s similar to hypnosis since it uses eye movement to process memories. This couldn’t be further from the truth. When you’re being hypnotized, you’re conscious but highly responsive to suggestion or direction. Hypnosis focuses on creating psychological barriers to revoke your brain’s access to traumatic memories. During EMDR therapy, you’re fully present and aware of what’s happening around you. EMDR helps your brain reframe how memories are stored in your body and brain.

3. It Creates False Memories.

Many people think that EMDR creates memories of past events that didn’t actually occur. EMDR cannot create false memories. It can only help you reprocess memories that you already hold and your present state of mind for the memory. It’s important to remember that for many individuals, memories change over time, so not all memories are fully accurate and factual. EMDR’s goal isn’t to change your memories; it’s to help you reframe that information to better manage and cope moving forward.

4. It Won’t Work If You Don’t Remember Your Trauma.

One of the benefits of EMDR is that you don’t have to remember every single detail of your trauma. This is a huge breakthrough, especially for trauma victims, as emotions, thoughts, or memories of trauma often get buried deep down inside the self. You don’t have to talk about or even remember every detail of the trauma because it’s still stored in your body and brain. EMDR has the power to access these memories stored in the body and brain and be able to reprocess them.

5. It Will Make Me Forget My Past Trauma.

The goal of EMDR isn’t to make you forget your trauma. Even if you have this wish for treatment, the main benefit of EMDR is to help you process that trauma so that you don’t have to constantly relive the experiences over and over again. EMDR helps move the memory to your long-term memory bank, but it won’t make you forget about it completely.

It’s important not to let hearsay or these common misconceptions about effective treatment options prevent you from seeking the support you need and deserve. If you’re interested in learning more about EMDR and how it can benefit you, contact us today to set up an initial consultation.