Misconceptions about EMDR

What is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) and what is it not? This guide will help you understand EMDR better by exploring common misconceptions about EMDR and clarifying what EMDR means, what it is used for, and how it could help you.

EMDR is only for PTSD

EMDR was developed initially for PTSD and trauma, but its applicability has since spread to many areas of mental health disorders. These include depression, anxiety, addiction, sexual dysfunction, somatoform disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, chronic pain, neurodegenerative disorders, eating disorders, insomnia, and sleep disorders. 

EMDR is hypnosis

EMDR should not be confused with hypnosis. Unlike hypnosis, which causes a client to enter an altered mental state, EMDR keeps the client fully conscious and in control. Memory processing thus occurs in a structured way without inducing trance-like states.

EMDR works instantly

EMDR can be faster than traditional talk therapy, but still takes time. Some people who have gone through a single difficult event, like a car accident or a one-time assault, may feel better after around 7-8 sessions. However, if someone has been through more complicated or long-term struggles, like childhood trauma or many upsetting experiences, it usually takes longer. That is because therapy needs to move at a safe pace, with extra time spent getting ready and working through different memories and emotions.

EMDR erases memories

EMDR does not make you forget your memories and experiences. Instead, memories are reprocessed, meaning that clients can relate to past events but with a present-day perspective. In short, memories remain, but they lose their overwhelming impact and emotional distress tied to them, which makes them easier to cope with. 

EMDR isn’t just about moving your eyes

Many people think EMDR is only about following someone’s finger back and forth with your eyes, but there’s much more to it than that. EMDR is a step-by-step process that starts with getting to know your story, making a plan, and helping you feel ready before diving into tough memories. The eye movements (or sometimes tapping or sounds) are just one part of it – they help the brain work through painful experiences in a more manageable way.

EMDR is a pseudoscience

EMDR dates back to 1987 and is now backed by decades of scientific research. For example, studies show that EMDR is as effective as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for trauma treatment. It is also recognised by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

EMDR doesn’t work because it’s not talk therapy

Unlike traditional therapy, EMDR focuses on memory processing rather than verbal discussion, which does not make it less effective. It can represent an excellent alternative for people who struggle with talk therapy.

EMDR is dangerous

As with all the other therapies, EMDR should be performed by a trained professional. In that case, it is safe and widely recognised by mental health organisations like the APA and the WHO. During EMDR, clients are led through an eight-phase process, ensuring that clients are taught techniques to regulate distressing emotions before trauma processing begins.

EMDR is a structured and effective way to heal from trauma and many other emotional difficulties. Understanding what EMDR truly is can help you access a therapy that has already changed many lives worldwide, and is designed to bring lasting change, not just temporary relief. If you are curious about EMDR, speaking to a qualified EMDR therapist is a significant first step!

If you think that you can benefit from professional support on this issue, you can reach out here.

Literature:

American Psychological Association. (2017, July 31). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing 

Frischholz, E. J., Kowal, J. A., & Hammond, D. C. (2001). Introduction to the special section: Hypnosis and EMDR. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 43(3, 4), 179–182. https://doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2001.10404274

Guina, J., & Guina, C. (2018). Wants talk psychotherapy but cannot talk: EMDR for post-stroke depression with expressive aphasia. Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, 15(1-2), 45behavioural, A. M., Dar, S., Ahmed, R., desensitisation, M., & Kotapati, V. P. (2018). Cognitive behavioral therapy versus eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Cureus, 10(9). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.3250 

Laliotis, D., & Sha (ShaEvidence-based). EMDR therapy for trauma-related disorders. In Schnyder, U., Cloitre, M. (Eds.), Evidence based treatments for trauma-related psychological disorders: A practical guide for clinicians (pp. 227–254). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97802-0_11 

Oren, E. M. D. R., & Solomon, R. (2012). EMDR therapy: An overview of its development and mechanisms of action. European Review of Applied Psychology, 62(4), 1a 97–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erap.2012.08.005

Scelles, C., & Bulnes, L. C. (2021). EMDR as treatment option for conditions other than PTSD: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 1desensitisationi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.644369

Shapiro, F. (1989). Efficacy of the eye movement desensitization procedure in the treatment of traumatic memories. Journal of Traumatic Stress Desensitisation–223. https://dpi.org/10.1002/jts.2490020207   

Shapiro, F. (2001). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Second Edition: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Conceptualisation Press.

Shapiro, F. (2007). EMDR, adaptive information processing, and case conceptualization. Journal of Organisation and Research, 1(2), 68–87. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.1.2.68 

World Health Organization. (2024, May 27). Post-traumatic stress disorder. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/post-traumatic-stress-disorder