EMDR as a Treatment of Childhood Trauma

EMDR as a Treatment for Childhood Trauma: Does it work? 

Key words: EMDR, PTSD, Childhood Trauma, Traumatic Memory

What is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. ²This can be a common treatment for the symptoms that an individual may experience from childhood trauma such as post-traumatic stress disorder. ¹² Awareness of EMDR as a treatment plan can lead to more individuals increasing willingness to not only refer others but receive therapy themselves to treat the symptoms of trauma.

What Does EMDR Look Like? 

From an outside perspective, EMDR can seem taboo and intimidating. However, with a brief explanation of EMDR, hopefully any nervousness and unsureness of EMDR will be resolved. During an EMDR session, the patient will be recalling from the very beginning their traumatic experience. ¹ They will be imagining their experience. ¹ During their recall, the patient will focus on the feelings and sensations such as feelings of distress that come from recalling the traumatic memory which will also be observed by the therapist. ¹² While this is occurring, the therapist will be moving their finger in front of the patient and the patient's eyes will be tracking the finger. ¹ The therapist can also substitute moving their finger in front of the patient with tapping.² The purpose of EMDR is to create a positive outcome from the traumatic memory. ¹ In order to do this the patient and therapist work together to curate a more positive perception and beliefs about the memory ¹² Inherently, EMDR helps patients give their traumatic memories a new meaning.²

What an Average EMDR Treatment Plan Would Look Like

For a more visual representation of an EMDR session the following YouTube video also explains EMDR as well.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q85N3eNTK40 

First Session

• Patient and Therapist will prepare for EMDR ¹
• Patients will take assessments that the therapist will review. ¹
• Patients will list off traumatic memories and experiences that the therapist will address during treatment. ¹
• The goal of EMDR is to correlate a positive self-perception with a traumatic memory. ¹

Second Session and Beyond

• At the end of each EMDR session the patient will discuss with the therapist anything that interfered with their focus. ¹
• In continued sessions the patient will continue to go back to the traumatic memory from the previous session. ¹
• Physical and Emotional Reactions to recall will be evaluated by the therapist. ¹
• Distress from trauma recall will be measured from 1-10. ¹
• Once the recall of the memory triggers a distress level 2 and below the therapist will move on to the next traumatic memory from the list created at the beginning of treatment. ¹

Ending of Treatment 

• Once the therapist goes through with all the traumatic memories with the patient, they will make a plan on how to confront future traumatic experiences. ¹
• There is a huge focus on forward thinking and prevention care. ¹

EMDR and Childhood Trauma

EMDR is effective however there are some complications that surround EMDR that makes this treatment plan more difficult than it seems when it comes to treating individuals who have experienced childhood trauma. 

According to research, EMDR has been an effective treatment for PTSD from childhood trauma. ¹Due to this research, it is important to take EMDR into consideration as a possible treatment for symptoms of childhood trauma. Although EMDR has benefits and success, here are some complications that should also be taken into consideration. 

Frequency of EMDR Sessions

• The more a patient attends and participates in EMDR sessions, the more likely the patient will continue and complete treatment and find success from treatment. ¹ 
• However, EMDR is typically held only once a week. ¹ This can interfere with whether a patient will return to continue treatment. 

The Complexities of Childhood Trauma

• There are some situations where treating PTSD from childhood trauma is extremely difficult. ² 
• This can make it difficult for patients to have motivation to seek treatment. ² This may be due to the patient lacking the skills or support to be able to cope and confront their trauma. ²
• Note: Each EMDR therapist is different. ² Handling each individual's complex situation surrounding childhood trauma is going to look a little different. ²

Should I Consider EMDR? 

EMDR has received praise as well as a fair share of criticism. Exploring other individuals' experiences as well as diving into research can help determine whether EMDR is right for you.

Criticisms of EMDR

• According to research, a common criticism of EMDR is that it may potentially delay patients from actually getting the help they need to address and treat their trauma. ²
• Additionally, although EMDR has been shown to have a great number of benefits, the actual process and treatment can be extremely difficult for the patient and the therapist. ²
• There is a large responsibility placed in the therapist. Therapists have expressed that there is a strong need to have the confidence that they have the skills to navigate someone's trauma. They have also noted that their behavior has an effect on the treatment that they provide. ²

Benefits of EMDR

• According to research, EMDR has been shown to:
• Help patients understand their trauma and how it is affecting them. ²
• Establish resilience in patients. ²
• Improve patient self-esteem. ²

An Interview with an Individual who has Received EMDR Therapy:

A text interview was also conducted with an individual who has received EMDR Therapy after experiencing a traumatic event a month previously. They were diagnosed with PTSD and treated for it with EMDR in January 2021.

Sources

1. Wibbelink, C. J. M., Lee, C. W., Bachrach, N., Dominguez, S. K., Ehring, T., van Es, S. M., Fassbinder, E., Köhne, S., Mascini, M., Meewisse, M.-L., Menninga, S., Morina, N., Rameckers, S. A., Thomaes, K., Walton, C. J., Wigard, I. G., & Arntz, A. (2021). The effect of twice-weekly versus once-weekly sessions of either imagery rescripting or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for adults with PTSD from childhood trauma (IREM-Freq): a study protocol for an international randomized clinical trial. Trials, 22(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05712-9

2. Boterhoven de Haan, K. L., Lee, C. W., Correia, H., Menninga, S., Fassbinder, E., Köehne, S., Arntz, A., & Kittel-Schneider, S. (2021). Patient and Therapist Perspectives on Treatment for Adults with PTSD from Childhood Trauma. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(5), 954. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10050954 

3. Interview with an individual who has received EMDR (Individual's personal information is withheld to protect confidentiality).