What Are The Side Effects of EMDR?
When it comes to therapy, most people are familiar with the traditional form of it known as talk therapy. However, different types of therapy are useful to treat specific issues someone may be going through.
One of these approaches is known as EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. While it was originally created to help those who are going through trauma, it can be used to treat anything from anxiety to depression.
EMDR is a type of therapy that uses bilateral eye movements to help reprocess and lessen the effects of trauma. Most people are skeptical about the effectiveness of this type of therapy. However, it is a scientifically backed method for treating a variety of mental health concerns.
What Are The Benefits Of EMDR
One major benefit of EMDR is that it can be a lot quicker of process than traditional talk therapy. The number of sessions needed can vary, but it can typically be done in twelve sessions. The session lengths themselves can be around 60 to 90 minutes.
In comparison, when treating issues such as trauma through talk therapy, it can take a lot longer.
Are There Risks With EMDR?
EMDR is great because it helps someone to reprocess painful memories or feelings that they were keeping repressed. The downside of this is that doing that isn’t exactly easy.
EMDR won’t actually put you at risk for physical harm, but the reactivation of these memories can be really triggering for someone. It is unethical for a therapist to use EMDR with a client if they haven’t been specifically trained in it. With that said, EMDR therapy is always a safe, judgment-free space.
Side Effects Of EMDR
It would be amiss to say that there are no side effects of EMDR. But, the good news is that when someone experiences effects after a session, it means that the treatment option is beginning to work.
As we mentioned above, we are tapping into a part of the brain that is holding unprocessed memories and feelings. When these come into the light, it can cause some unpleasant feelings.
Someone may experience:
Lightheadedness
Flashbacks
Remembering distressing memories that weren’t thought of
Vivid dreams
Even though there are side effects of EMDR, the practicing therapist will never just end the session without ensuring that the client feels safe and calm enough to leave the office.
It’s unpleasant to think that something could cause you to feel even worse. However, in this case, it eventually has it’s benefits.
How Do You Know If EMDR Is Right For You?
We’re human and we like to have a general idea of what to expect out of something. Whether that is restaurant reviews, movie reviews, or anything else. We generally don’t like the “Surprise!” element that can come with life.
If you are reading this post, you have likely been searching for awhile trying to find out about this type of therapy. It can feel very different from talk therapy, especially when you don’t understand much about it.
While there is a wealth of information about EMDR out there on the internet, it is usually best to discuss the specifics about it with a licensed therapist who is certified.
As a therapist, I am always happy to answer any questions or address specific concerns about the types of therapy that I offer. This is especially true with therapies like EMDR. In some cases, EMDR may not be an appropriate course of action depending on what the person is going through.
The only way to find out for sure is by reaching out to me about your specific problems. From there, we can determine if EMDR Therapy is right for you.