A Therapist’s Musings: What is Really Happening in EMDR
A Therapist’s Musings: What is Really Happening in EMDR
As a therapist who utilizes EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) to help heal all kinds of trauma, I am privileged to bear witness to the transformations which my client’s experience. From my side of the screen, I guide my clients on a unique journey. They go from being controlled by a powerful negative belief about themselves, to believing fully in a newly installed positive belief. They experience newfound clarity, confidence and empowerment. Remarkably, traumatic memories are rendered neutral over the course of EMDR and shame and self-blame are shed.
There are many articles already written explaining the process of EMDR, it’s eight phases, and what is happening in the brain during reprocessing.
I would like to share my musings of what I think is taking place on a less tangible level, perhaps on a metaphysical or spiritual level. These thoughts are absolutely not proven scientifically, but if you have experienced EMDR, as I and my clients have, I’m curious if my thoughts resonate with your experience.
Witnessing:
On your EMDR journey, you are the witness to your story. Underlying almost all trauma is the feeling of not being seen or heard, not having been known and protected by the most important and impactful people in your life. While engaging in the bi-lateral stimulation during EMDR reprocessing, you witness yourself and that which you felt, thought, sensed and experienced. On a metaphysical level, that witnessing heals the wound of not having been seen/heard/valued/protected.
Accessing inner wisdom:
But why don’t cognitive approaches work just as well? Can you not simply work on changing your thoughts and beliefs about yourself? Why is this witnessing transformative?
In EMDR reprocessing, we are not working on a cognitive level. Bear with me as I bring in the spiritual dimension. It is my belief that during EMDR reprocessing, we enter an internal space of light and love within which we do not generally have access. In this spiritual space, I think truth is revealed. Once we are working from a place of light and love, we have the courage and power to bear witness to what really happened to us. The messages of shame and blame can no longer flourish, the darkness is expelled by the light. A newfound confidence is accessed and peace is restored to the body.
The Best Witness is You:
But why do you have to be the witness? Shouldn’t the one who inflicted the injury be the witness? Or perhaps the therapist can bear witness for you? I think (and these truly are only my own thoughts, in no way based on scientific research) that because your body experienced the original wounding, it is most powerful and deeply repairing for you to experience the memories, thoughts, feelings and body sensations again through the more spiritual lens of EMDR. Only when you witness the full memory again, are you able to integrate a new perspective on what was and was not in your control. I think this newfound perspective leads to significant reduction of shame and self-blame, which then repairs and de-activates the memory, leading the way for the installation of a positive belief about yourself.
Healing parts, coming into our adult Self:
Using the IFS (internal family systems) perspective, perhaps during the witnessing that takes place in EMDR, multiple parts of ourselves are revealed, their roles and the ways in which they have protected us become clear. We reexperience what led to the creation of those parts, and once witnessed, those parts no longer need to protect us. We then enter into our adult Self, who is capable of managing and connecting with all the parts in the system.
I am very aware that these musings might make some people feel skeptical and even cringe, and I invite you to try EMDR for yourself, experience the witnessing, the shedding of shame, the flooding of light, love and truth, and then decide. If you need help navigating trauma and want to explore EMDR, please reach us —we are here to help.
About The Author
Shoshana is a licensed clinician (ASAT) supervised by Jeremy Mast, MS, MDiv, LMFT, CSAT (LMFT 90961). Shoshana works primarily with individual adults. Her experience includes trauma, sex addiction, betrayal trauma, as well as a variety of mental health concerns. Shoshana enjoys exploring new adventures in nature and spending time with family and friends.
