Why EMDR Heals Trauma Faster Than Talk Therapy?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to therapy. Each person is unique, and so are their needs. We are all shaped by our life experiences and events, family history, personality, stressors, and more. That’s why there are so many different therapy techniques and approaches available. What works for you may not work for someone else, and vice versa.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is still considered a fairly new type of treatment. Still, it’s known to work faster than more traditional forms of talk therapy, especially when it comes to trauma. Let’s learn more about why EMDR tends to work faster than traditional talk therapy for trauma.
The Focus
EMDR tends to work faster than traditional talk therapies because of the focus. During an EMDR session, a therapist will work with their client on targeting specific traumatic memories while simultaneously working to reduce the stress associated with those memories.
During more traditional forms of talk therapy, a client has to go through their personal history and set of negative beliefs. Throughout the course of several sessions, a therapist will work with their client to slowly reduce and replace those negative thoughts and feelings with more realistic and positive ones.
The Approach
Traditional talk therapy involves focusing on specific experiences, feelings, or thoughts. A client has to open up to their therapist and verbally speak about their past negative experiences, associated thoughts, and feelings.
EMDR is often preferred compared to traditional talk therapy, especially in the instance of traumatic events, because clients don’t have to do much talking during their sessions. While a client is thinking about a specific memory, the therapist will implement bilateral stimulation through eye movements, tapping sensations, or sounds to reprocess any traumatic memories.
The Stimulation
During talk therapy, the session depends on how much the client wants to share or communicate with their therapist. The entire session and course of treatment depend on the verbal interaction and dialogue shared during those sessions.
In EMDR therapy, the sessions rely more on the physiological stimulation that is used to process any memories. This bilateral stimulation has been proven to be extremely effective in processing traumatic memories. The bilateral stimulation is believed to activate the information processing system in the brain. It’s believed to mimic the way that the brain processes memories during the REM cycle of sleep.
The Effectiveness
While traditional talk therapies are highly effective for a wide range of mental health conditions and disorders, EMDR therapy is often better suited for individuals who have experienced trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Traditional talk therapy can and has been used for trauma previously, but it often requires more sessions compared to EMDR. EMDR often leads to faster, long-lasting, and less distressing results throughout treatment.
Next Steps
No two people in the world are exactly the same. If two people go through the same traumatic event, it doesn’t mean that they’ll benefit from the same types of treatments. Personal preference and the severity of the trauma play a role in the final decision. Both talk therapy and EMDR are highly researched and effective forms of treatment.
No matter what approach you’re leaning towards, all that matters is that you’re getting the help you need and deserve. You can implement certain lifestyle changes to help reduce some of the signs and symptoms you’re experiencing. But there isn’t a true replacement for treatment through a licensed and trained mental health professional. A mental health professional will be able to work with you to weigh out the pros and cons of the different options. Reach out today to see which option suits you and your needs best.