How Does EMDR Therapy Work for Depression?
Everyone gets down at times. We feel sad and may even lose hope for a while. Depression is much more than this. It’s a diagnosable mental health disorder that, left unchecked, can bring about thoughts of self-harm. Depression is a common mood disorder, it comes in many forms, and it can impact people of all ages. Early seven percent of American adults will experience at least one major depressive episode in any given year.
People with depression can’t just “cheer up” or “snap out of it.” Professional treatment is needed. One effective option with sustainable results is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
What is EMDR?
EMDR is not like traditional talk therapy. In general, after a full assessment, treatment looks like this:
With the help of your EMDR therapist, you’ll choose a negative emotion or memory to focus on.
While the client maintains that focus, the therapist will perform hand and finger movements in front of the client's face.
The client follows these movements with their eyes — thus including a state similar to REM sleep.
In this state, the client can process the negative thought without being triggered.
The negative thought is resolved and then replaced with a positive belief.
The 8 Phases of EMDR
Phase 1: History-taking and assessment
Phase 2: Developing a connection of trust between therapist and client
Phases 3-6: Choosing a focus (see above) and EMDR processing happens
Phase 7: The client keeps a log for one week to reinforce what they’ve experienced and learned
Phase 8: The therapist will assess and analyze the client's progress
How Does EMDR Help With Depression?
Go back to the first step on the first list above. The negative emotion chosen can be something like, “My life is meaningless” or “No one likes me.” From that starting point, EMDR has been found to create a major reduction in depression symptoms after just 6 to 8 sessions. In addition, EMDR patients who tried EMDR reported a greater quality of life after treatment. More research needs to be done to assess the sustainability of such results but what we know right now is promising.
A Few Other Reasons to Consider EMDR
Relatively Low Number of Sessions
Unlike many talk therapy options, EMDR typically takes place over 8 to 20 sessions. This helps soothe the concerns of those who hear stories about lengthy therapy commitments and pharmaceutical interventions.
Side Effects Are Minimal and Minor
About 20 to 40 percent of people with depression are prescribed medication. Of course, this protocol contains the risk of side effects. EMDR, on the other hand, is known for its minor side effects (if any). The most common, short-term issues include anxiety, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and headaches. In the long term, some clients have reported intrusive memories.
The Power of Challenging and Changing One’s Emotions
Depression is a potent liar. It will do its best to convince you that nothing will change. You’ve hit rock bottom and that’s where you’ll stay. This sense of being stuck is a powerful engine for the downward spiral major depression can evoke. EMDR flips the script. You take agency over your moods and are better able to visualize paths that previously seemed invisible.
You’ll Experience New Levels of Self-Esteem
The speed and efficacy of EMDR can inspire quite a boost in your mindset. You are literally replacing negative self-beliefs with fresh, new ways to see yourself and your life. This is not to imply that EMDR is a magic formula but the subsequent rise in self-esteem is very conducive to recovery.
You probably have some questions by now. If you’d like to know more about EMDR therapy and its uses for depression, I’d love to talk with you soon.