Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a highly effective treatment developed to help you work through traumatic memories and unprocessed life experiences.
Endorsed by reputable institutions like the EMDR Institute and EMDR International Association, this therapy is known to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related conditions.
At Summit at Harmony Oaks, clinicians specially trained in clinical practice deliver EMDR in a safe, structured setting, providing you with a path to recovery.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is a specialized therapeutic approach that focuses on helping people process unresolved traumatic memories.
Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro, EMDR combines bilateral stimulation techniques (such as guided rapid eye movements, tapping, or sounds) with the adaptive information processing model.
This model suggests that traumatic or distressing memories can become “stuck” in the brain, causing ongoing emotional and physical distress. EMDR therapy aims to “unblock” these memories, allowing the brain to process and store them in a healthier way.
As the trauma is reprocessed, painful memories lose their intensity, enabling you to replace negative beliefs with more constructive, positive thoughts.
Summit at Harmony Oaks offers EMDR as part of our trauma-based treatment approach in both mental health and addiction recovery programs.
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
EMDR therapy follows a structured, eight-phase protocol that guides you through processing traumatic memories in a controlled and supportive setting.
Each phase of EMDR has a specific purpose, from initial history-taking and preparation to actual memory processing and closure.
Through techniques such as side-to-side eye movements and other forms of bilateral stimulation, your EMDR therapist works with you to focus on distressing memories. They help you reprocess them in a way that reduces their emotional impact.
EMDR is considered a highly effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related conditions and is backed by organizations like the Department of Defense.
Its structure and adaptability make it a valuable option for people dealing with symptoms from acute stress disorder, anxiety, and other trauma-linked disorders, providing a trusted and research-supported path to relief.
Benefits of EMDR for Mental Health
EMDR provides several benefits for those dealing with trauma and mental health conditions. These can include:
- Reduces PTSD symptoms: EMDR therapy is a proven approach to alleviating symptoms of PTSD that result from a disturbing event.
- Alleviates difficult memories: EMDR helps you reduce the intensity of traumatic memories, providing relief from flashbacks and negative emotions.
- Reframes negative beliefs: By addressing and reshaping negative thoughts about yourself, EMDR therapy builds self-esteem, which can help you feel more in control during your healing process.
- Eases physical tension: Unresolved trauma can cause physical symptoms. EMDR therapy uses body-focused techniques like the body scan to release residual stress.
- Addresses a variety of disorders: EMDR is beneficial for anxiety disorders, personality disorders, dissociative disorders, and more, providing comprehensive support for mental health.
What Mental Health Conditions Can EMDR Treat?
EMDR is effective for a variety of mental health conditions beyond PTSD. Here’s a list of conditions EMDR can help treat:
- Anxiety disorders, like panic disorder, phobias, and generalized anxiety by reprocessing fears and underlying traumatic memories.
- Depression, by targeting negative thoughts and beliefs associated with depression, offering a more hopeful outlook.
- Dissociative disorders by reintegrating dissociated memories and emotions, improving your emotional stability.
- Underlying trauma or negative beliefs associated with eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by reducing the intensity of obsessions and compulsions linked to distressing memories.
- Personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder by addressing trauma-related triggers.
- Addiction by lessening the trauma that often drives addictive behaviors, providing a healthier path to recovery.
Mental Health Programs at Summit That Feature EMDR
At Summit at Harmony Oaks, EMDR therapy is thoughtfully integrated into several treatment programs, so you can get the level of support that best suits your needs.
Our full-time residential program provides a safe, immersive environment with 24/7 care, ideal for people who need consistent support and time to address complex trauma.
In this setting, EMDR therapy sessions are intensive and structured, allowing you to work deeply on unresolved traumatic memories with the guidance of skilled clinicians.
Our outpatient program offers flexible options for those balancing other life responsibilities while focusing on mental health. Within our outpatient services, we provide two levels of care that integrate EMDR:
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP): IOP is designed for those who need regular therapeutic support while managing work, school, or family commitments. EMDR therapy sessions in IOP are held several times a week, allowing you to address traumatic memories without committing to full-time care.
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP): PHP offers a more structured level of care than IOP, with therapy sessions and treatments provided five days a week for several hours each day. In PHP, EMDR therapy sessions are more frequent and intensive, offering a level of support that falls between residential and outpatient care.
If you are dealing with a mental health disorder and substance use disorder, our dual diagnosis program incorporates EMDR therapy to address trauma that underlies both conditions.
EMDR is used to help process trauma-related triggers and distressing memories that may contribute to substance use so you can heal comprehensively.
Most Insurance Accepted
As a member of the Harmony Health Group family of treatment programs, we are able to work with many private insurance plans.
Verify InsuranceEligibility for EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy works on many struggling with traumatic memories, including adolescents and older adults. To receive EMDR therapy, you typically need to show that:
- You have experienced traumatic events, such as accidents, abuse, or combat
- You struggle with symptoms of PTSD, such as flashbacks and anxiety
- You are managing mental health conditions like anxiety disorders, OCD, or depression linked to trauma
- You seek to resolve distressing memories or improve self-esteem
- You are open to exploring alternative forms of therapy alongside traditional methods like CBT
What Happens During EMDR Sessions?
During an EMDR therapy session, you can expect a safe, structured process where you work with a trained EMDR therapist to process and reduce distress related to traumatic experiences.
Here’s what you can expect during an EMDR session:
- History and treatment planning (phase 1): In this phase, you and your EMDR therapist discuss your history and develop a treatment plan. Together, you identify the target memories and negative beliefs related to traumatic events.
- Preparation (phase 2): During preparation, your therapist explains EMDR therapy and guides you through relaxation techniques to help you feel safe and grounded. These techniques can help you manage any body sensations that may arise during the sessions.
- Assessment: During this phase, you focus on specific details of a distressing memory you want to focus on during your session. This will also include any related physical sensations, negative emotions, and thoughts. Your therapist will measure your distress level to understand the intensity of the memory.
- Desensitization: Using bilateral stimulation, the therapist guides you in processing the target memory. Eye movements, tapping, or auditory cues help reduce the impact of traumatic experiences.
- Installation of positive beliefs: After desensitization, you work with the therapist to establish positive beliefs that replace negative thoughts tied to the trauma.
- Body scan: To ensure that lingering physical sensations are also addressed, a body scan is performed to observe and release any residual tension.
- Closure: Each session ends with grounding techniques to help you leave feeling calm and stable, regardless of what was processed. You may also have follow-up practices to support your well-being between sessions.
- Reevaluation: In this final phase, you review treatment effects and assess if further work is needed on any distressing memories.
Cost of EMDR Therapy
The cost of EMDR therapy varies based on individual needs, session length, and the level of care required.
At Summit at Harmony Oaks, we work with many insurance providers to help make EMDR treatment accessible. For more information on costs and payment options, our admissions team is available to assist you in exploring coverage and financial solutions that work for you.
Try EMDR to Improve Mental Health at Summit
Contact UsEMDR therapy at Summit at Harmony Oaks provides an opportunity to address the root causes of trauma and distress, helping you find lasting relief.
Whether you’re managing PTSD, anxiety, or other trauma-related conditions, our experienced EMDR therapists are here to support you.
By choosing Summit, you’re choosing a place of healing and compassionate care, where each session brings you closer to recovery.
Contact us today to learn more about how EMDR therapy can help you regain control and live a life of greater peace and resilience.
EMDR Therapy FAQs
EMDR therapy helps reprocess traumatic memories by using bilateral stimulation techniques. This process reduces the emotional intensity of distressing memories and allows you to replace negative beliefs with positive ones, leading to improved mental health.
EMDR therapy sessions typically last between 60 and 90 minutes. The duration of treatment varies based on the complexity of the trauma, with some people experiencing significant progress in as few as six to 12 sessions, while others may require longer.
EMDR is considered an effective treatment for PTSD, with numerous studies and endorsements from organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychological Association (APA), and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Research shows that EMDR can significantly reduce symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and other trauma-related disorders, often providing long-lasting results.
Sources
- American Psychological Association. “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.” Retrieved from: https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing. Accessed on October 30, 2024.
- Cleveland Clinic. “EMDR Therapy.” Retrieved from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22641-emdr-therapy. Accessed on October 30, 2024.
- National Library of Medicine. “The Role of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy in Medicine: Addressing the Psychological and Physical Symptoms Stemming from Adverse Life Experiences.” Retrieved from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3951033/. Accessed on October 30, 2024.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “PTSD: National Center for PTSD.” Retrieved from: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand_tx/emdr.asp. Accessed on October 30, 2024.