What Happens in an EMDR Session?
Your First EMDR Session Explained
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy represents a specialised approach to addressing traumatic experiences and psychological distress. My clients often have a mixture of curiosity and apprehension when first exploring this therapeutic method. And for others, they feel eager and impatient to get started because they have tried various things before without success or been struggling for a long time. Regardless, the unfamiliar nature of EMDR means most of my clients naturally have questions about what to expect. I hope this piece helps to create more transparency about what to expect with my approach to EMDR.
The EMDR Assessment Process
We won’t just dive in at the deep end. I take a structured and comprehensive approach, collaboratively with you, to determine what memories from the past need to be processed and why. By the end of this assessment process, we will understand:
The specific memories we'll be working with
The order of processing
Underlying psychological themes
Once we are ready to work on the first memory, I will ask you some questions about the specific memory which involves:
Identifying the most distressing part of the memory
Exploring the limiting beliefs you currently hold about yourself
Determining the adaptive belief, in other words, the healthier way in which you would like to view yourself
Assessing the emotional intensity of the memory
This process helps us understand the key components we need to target for change in the EMDR processing.
Bilateral Stimulation: While focusing on the memory, I guide you through bilateral stimulation:
Side-to-side eye movements (following the movement of my hand or a light bar)
Alternating taps on your hands or knees
Alternating audio tones through headphones
Memory Processing: As the bilateral stimulation continues, you:
Allow your mind to go wherever it naturally flows
Report new thoughts, images, emotions, or sensations that arise, or even if there is no change and it feels the same.
Each ‘set’ of bilateral stimulation’ lasts approximately 25-30 seconds. Following this you pause, and I ask my clients what they noticed or observed. This is kept brief and the primary aim is for me to check the trauma event is being processed (i.e. not stuck) and to ensure you are kept safe and grounded throughout the processing.
We continue this back and forth of bilateral stimulation and checking in until the distress you feel associated with this memory decreases.
Installation Phase: Once the distress has reduced, we continue with bilateral stimulation to help you strengthen a positive belief to replace the negative one. We continue memory processing until the positive belief has fully strengthened.
Body Scan: You mentally scan your body to identify any remaining tension. If there are remnants of tension in the body, we continue with bilateral stimulation until the tension has reduced.
Session Closure:
Sometimes the work on the memory needs to continue over a few sessions. If this is the case, we ensure you're feeling emotionally stable before ending the session
You briefly discuss what emerged and what to expect between sessions after processing
Sessions typically last 60 minutes. Some clients prefer to book blocks of EMDR sessions for a few hours to do processing work.
Between-Session Experience:
Processing may continue between sessions
You might experience new insights, emotions, or dreams. And for some they may not notice anything.
Keeping notes about these experiences can be helpful for your next session
Testimonial from an EMDR client
“EMDR was daunting at first, but Thulasi demonstrated insurmountable patience and skill through constant reassurance and patience. EDMR helped me to unpack trauma that has affected my mental health for the majority of my life. Dismantling my trauma in a safe way and practical way has been conducive to my overall recovery. I was able to return to work and gained a better understanding of what was conducive to my wellbeing.”
Testimonial from an EMDR client
“It is raw at times. It requires one to feel. To go into past events. What I found most incredible, was the space with which Thulasi created in order for me to complete and transform past traumas. For me, this form of treatment is unquestionably the most effective and healing experience I’ve ever had. And I’ve tried a lot! I think it’s the combination of Thulasi being a really insightful practitioner and how the process works. I felt safe with her. I know she is qualified. And then the EMDR itself just works. It really does.”
Ready to Overcome Trauma Symptoms Through EMDR?
Reach out to me for a compassionate, efficient and effective approach tailored specifically to your needs. Together, we'll work to help you move forward with greater psychological resilience and understanding.
