EMDR Therapy Sydney
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing(EMDR) therapy is a transformative approach to mental health treatment, offering new hope to those affected by trauma and stress. Melanie is certified in EMDR therapy and ready to help you heal from your traumatic experience.
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What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy is a highly effective trauma treatment recognised globally by leading health organisations, developed in 1987 for treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It operates on the principle that our mind, like our body, has an inherent ability to heal from emotional distress. When this process is disrupted by traumatic events, EMDR therapy helps remove the blocks, allowing for the resumption of natural mental healing.
EMDR therapy offers an efficient approach to healing traumatic memories to alleviate distress.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR therapy stands out for its unique approach to processing traumatic memories. Central to EMDR is the use of bilateral stimulation, often through guided eye movements, which is integral to the therapy's eight-phase process. This stimulation plays a crucial role in reducing the intensity of traumatic memories, making them less distressing.
Bilateral stimulation, which is the cornerstone of EMDR therapy, is thought to mimic the brain's natural processing that occurs during rapid eye movement sleep. By alternately stimulating the left and right hemispheres of the brain, EMDR helps diminish the emotional impact and vividness of traumatic memories, enabling individuals to process these memories in a healthier and less intrusive way.
EMDR's Eight-Phase Process: What to Expect During Sessions
EMDR therapy uses a structured eight-phase approach below:
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Phase 1: History-taking and treatment planning
The initial phase of EMDR therapy revolves around gathering the client's history and developing a treatment plan. During these sessions, the EMDR therapist evaluates the client's readiness for the therapy and develops a tailored treatment plan.
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Phase 2: Preparation
The client and therapist will work together to identify key targets for the EMDR process. Additionally, they may explore related past incidents that could contribute to the client's current distress. A significant part of this phase also involves the therapist training the client to develop specific skills and behaviours to cope with current challenges and equip the client to handle future situations better.
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Phase 3: Assessment
During the third phase of EMDR therapy, known as the assessment phase, the therapist and client collaborate to choose a particular memory to work on during the session. The client is prompted to identify the most vivid image associated with this memory. The therapist then helps the client uncover any negative beliefs linked to this memory while also providing insights into the irrational aspects of the event.
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Phase 4: Desensitisation
This stage involves re-evaluating and transforming the client's traumatic event. The aim is to alter the sensory experiences and associations linked to the trauma while strengthening the client's sense of self-efficacy and fostering insightful revelations.
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Phase 5: Installation
The therapist's main objective is to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. The goal is to reinforce this positive belief until it becomes completely true or authentic for the client based on their experiences.
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Phase 6: Body Scan
In the sixth phase, the client is guided through a process of scanning their body. This scan aims to identify any physical sensations or residual tension that may be linked to the targeted traumatic event. If such responses are detected, the therapist focuses on these physical sensations for additional processing.
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Phase 7: Closure
This is a crucial part of the EMDR process, particularly when the reprocessing of traumatic memories is not fully completed within a session. In this phase, clients employ self-control techniques previously taught by the therapist to return to a state of equilibrium. The therapist also guides the client on what to expect between sessions and advises them to keep a record of any disturbances or unsettling feelings that may appear.
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Phase 8: Re-evaluation of treatment effect
A thorough review is conducted to assess the effectiveness of the treatment and to determine any further areas needing attention. This step is essential to ensure that the therapy has achieved its desired outcomes and to identify any additional targets that may require processing in future sessions.