8 Phases of EMDR

8 Phases of EMDR-by Luna Sulollari

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy approach that processes distressing or traumatic memories and experiences. The aim of this approach is to reduce the emotional intensity and unwanted disturbances associated with the memories. By recalling traumatic memories and pairing them with bilateral side-to-side eye movements, it facilitates the brain's ability to reprocess the memories in a way that reduces their negative emotional impact. Before beginning EMDR therapy, it is important for you to understand how the process is structured. EMDR is separated into 8 phases, which provide a framework for both you and the therapist to follow. Each phase serves a specific purpose to prepare and facilitate you for the intense emotional work that will occur.

Phase 1: History Taking Initially, you will discuss your personal history, current symptoms, and specific traumatic experiences you want to address. This detailed information will be used to best assess how past experiences may be impacting your current issues. You and the therapist will collaborate to create a treatment plan that addresses and targets your specific needs. The plan helps create an appropriate pace which will outline the memories that will be reprocessed as part of the treatment.

Phase 2: Preparation Here, the therapist will prepare and explain to you what will happen during EMDR sessions. Any concerns or questions you have will be addressed, helping you become comfortable and familiar with the process. You and the therapist will collaborate on coping techniques that can be useful for dealing with emotional disturbances which may arise during sessions. This includes breathing techniques, imagery, or meditation.

Phase 3: Assessment The therapist identifies the specific memories or experiences that will be targeted during that session. This is considered the target, which can include images, beliefs, feelings, and sensations that come up when thinking about the event. The therapist will ask you questions to activate your trauma memory. You will then observe any negative beliefs about how the trauma has made you feel. When recalling the event, you will be asked to scale the level of disturbance and how true you believe the negative belief to be.

Phase 4: Desensitization You then engage in bilateral eye stimulation while simultaneously focusing on the targeted memory. During this reprocessing, new thoughts, sensations, images, and feelings can emerge. Between each bilateral eye stimulation, you will be asked questions about what comes up. The memory is reprocessed until you scale the level of disturbance at 0. The goal is to reduce the emotional distress associated with the memory.

Phase 5: Installation Once desensitization is complete, you will introduce the positive beliefs that you want to be associated with the memory. Examples of positive beliefs can be “I am safe now” or “I am lovable.” The positive belief will be strengthened through bilateral eye stimulation until it feels completely true. The goal is to replace previously held negative beliefs in relation to the traumatic event and create more positive and healthier beliefs.

Phase 6: Body Scan The therapist will guide you to focus on any feelings held in the body from head to toe. The body scan is used to identify any residual discomfort or physical sensation that may be present. You will continue to recall the memory along with bilateral eye stimulation until there are no negative sensations remaining.

Phase 7: Closure Each session of reprocessing is finished with closure to help you return to a state of calm in the present moment. Once the targeted memory has been adequately processed, the therapist's focus is then to bring you to a stabilized and safe state before heading back into the world.

Phase 8: Reevaluation At the beginning of each new session, you and the therapist will discuss recently processed memories. Here, you will discuss your current level of distress around the memory and any changes in symptoms. By reviewing the progress made throughout treatment, it helps identify whether the targeted memory or issue has been properly processed. Before moving forward with the next target, future targets and directions for treatment are determined.

Find out if EMDR therapy is the right fit for you and contact us! We are currently offering therapy in the main line, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, and surrounding areas, as well as in Center City Philadelphia.