Protocols for Standard EMDR

EMDR is an individual psychotherapy method used by trained mental health professionals. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, which means that repeating eye movements help a client release the trauma of a disturbing experience and replace it with positive thoughts. Clinicians establish trust with clients over approximately three sessions and follow with EMDR to treat problems such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and addictions. According to Francine Shapiro's book "EMDR, The Breakthrough 'Eye Movement' Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma," EMDR protocols were used after the Oklahoma City bombing with positive results. EMDR protocols involve specific phases of treatment.

Treatment Plan Design

• EMDR help with many emotional issues.

  EMDR protocol begins when a clinician uses the client's medical and family history to design a treatment plan and shares the plan with the client. The clinician explains the steps to come in the session and teaches in-session safety procedures and guides her client to create an internal "safe place."

Assessment

• As the core of the EMDR process, assessment is when the client selects a disturbing experience to work with, then with the clinician's help, the client evaluates the experience in detail. The client describes his thoughts, feelings and beliefs about the selected experience. He also describes any images that occur to him or feelings that come up in his body while holding the experience in his mind.

Desensitization

• Desensitization means that the clinician and client work with the selected experience to get rid of all the bad feelings about it. The clinician helps the client bring up visual images, body sensations and how she feels about herself then uses eye movement to drain the unwanted feelings from the client.

Installation of Positive Thought

• The EMDR protocols use scales that run from 0 to 10 throughout the process. The client rates the feelings and beliefs about the selected experience so the clinician knows what still needs to be done to release all of the bad feelings and beliefs. This release of the bad feelings is called processing. Once processing is complete, the clinician helps the client create good beliefs and thoughts about the selected experience.

Body Scan

• The client mentally checks out his entire body while holding the target experience in mind and reports any areas that call his attention or seem blocked or bad in some way. The clinician guides the client through short sets of eye movements until his body feels completely good.

Closure

• The healing process may occur for days or weeks following a session. The client writes down any bothersome thoughts, realizations, vivid dreams, strong emotions or recall of past experiences and brings them to the next session. If any of these become extreme or disturbing before the next session, the client immediately contacts the clinician.

Re-evaluation

• In a final session, the client brings the record of dreams, emotions, realizations and recollections of the previous weeks to the clinician. She and the clinician discuss and evaluate the experience that they selected to work on and any current issues and future concerns.