EMDR Therapy Melbourne: How It Works and Who It Can Help

If you're exploring options for trauma therapy in Melbourne, you may have come across the term EMDR. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a well-researched and effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.

At Shaw Psychology, several of our Melbourne-based general and clinical psychologists are trained in EMDR. This article explains what EMDR is, how it works, and who might benefit from this specialised approach.

EMDR helps reprocess the painful experiences that have shaped our story and reintegrate more beneficial and positive beliefs.

What is EMDR Therapy?

Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro, EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It's an integrative psychotherapy approach that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress resulting from disturbing life experiences.

EMDR therapy is based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. This model suggests that our brains have a natural system for processing and integrating life experiences. However, traumatic or highly distressing events can overwhelm this system, causing the memory of the event, along with the original images, thoughts, feelings, and body sensations, to get "stuck" or stored dysfunctionally in the brain. This unprocessed memory can then be easily triggered, leading to symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, or feeling stuck in the past.

EMDR therapy aims to help the brain effectively resume its natural processing, allowing the stuck memory to be integrated in a more adaptive way.

How Does EMDR Work? The Role of Bilateral Stimulation

A key component of EMDR is Bilateral Stimulation (BLS). This involves the therapist guiding the client through sets of side-to-side eye movements, taps (e.g., on the hands or knees), or sounds (e.g., using headphones). While the client briefly focuses on different aspects of the distressing memory (like the image, a negative belief about oneself, emotions, and body sensations), the BLS is applied.

While research is ongoing to pinpoint the exact neurological mechanisms, BLS appears to stimulate the brain's inherent information processing system, similar to what occurs during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. This allows the brain to "digest" the traumatic material, leading to a reduction in the vividness and emotional charge associated with the memory. Importantly, EMDR does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue for extended periods, which many clients find helpful.

The EMDR Process: The Eight Phases

EMDR therapy follows a structured eight-phase approach, ensuring safety and effectiveness:

1. History Taking & Treatment Planning: Understanding your background and identifying potential targets for EMDR processing.

2. Preparation: Crucially, learning coping skills and relaxation techniques (resourcing) to manage emotional distress during and between sessions. You are always in control.

3. Assessment: Identifying the specific memory (target) to be processed, along with the associated negative belief, desired positive belief, emotions, and body sensations.

4. Desensitisation: Using BLS while focusing on the target memory to reduce the level of distress associated with it.

5. Installation: Strengthening the desired positive belief associated with the target memory.

6. Body Scan: Checking for any residual physical tension or discomfort related to the memory.

7. Closure: Ensuring you feel stable and calm at the end of each session, using learned coping skills if needed.

8. Re-evaluation: Checking progress at the beginning of subsequent sessions.

   
   

The preparation phase is vital; processing only begins once you feel adequately resourced and safe.

An example:

Sophia lives in Melbourne and was involved in a frightening medical emergency six months ago. Since then, she’d been having nightmares and intrusive images of the hospital room, felt constantly anxious about her health, and avoided going near the hospital. Her Shaw Psychology psychologist, trained in EMDR, first spent time helping Sophia develop calming techniques (Phase 2). When ready, they identified a key distressing image from the emergency (Phase 3). During processing (Phase 4), Sophia focused on the image and associated feelings while following her psychologist's hand movements side-to-side. After several sets of eye movements, interspersed with brief check-ins, Sophia reported the image felt blurrier, more distant, and less upsetting. Over subsequent sessions, they continued processing related aspects. Sophia noticed her nightmares decreased, she felt less anxious about her health, and eventually felt comfortable driving past the hospital without intense fear.

(Please note: This is a fictional vignette created for illustrative purposes only.)

Who Can EMDR Help?

EMDR therapy is most well-known for its effectiveness in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and is recognised internationally as a first-line treatment.

However, research and clinical experience suggest EMDR can also be beneficial for a range of other issues where past distressing experiences might be playing a role, including:

• Complex Trauma (C-PTSD)

• Anxiety disorders and panic attacks

• Phobias

• Grief and loss

• Performance anxiety

• Some forms of depression

What to Expect from EMDR at Shaw Psychology

If EMDR is deemed appropriate for you, your general or clinical psychologist will thoroughly explain the process and ensure you feel prepared and comfortable before beginning any processing. They will guide you through the eight phases, prioritising your safety and working collaboratively at your pace.

Finding a Trained EMDR Psychologist in Melbourne

It is essential that EMDR therapy is delivered by a qualified mental health professional (like a general and clinical psychologist) who has completed EMDR training. At Shaw Psychology, we have clinicians specifically trained to provide EMDR therapy safely and effectively within a broader therapeutic framework.

Could EMDR Be Right for You?

EMDR offers a unique and often powerful way to process distressing memories and reduce their impact on your present life. If you're struggling with the effects of trauma or other challenging experiences, EMDR might be a valuable option to consider.

To learn more about EMDR therapy and whether it might be suitable for you:

Contact us today on (03) 9969 2190, visit our website at www.shawpsychology.com, or book an initial consultation directly online here: https://bit.ly/bookshawpsychology