Is emdr a pseudoscience?

• A Reddit user who is about to attend EMDR training is seeking advice on getting the most out of the experience.
• Another user with two years of experience with EMDR suggests that more recent research suggests bilateral stimulation used in EMDR therapy may be superfluous. They also mention that the Calm Place and Container containment skills are very effective anxiety coping skills.
• A user who already uses DBT for skill work notes that the training material still says to offer eye movement first.
• A therapist with a highly-dissociative client advises not to touch clients with BLS/Phase 4 until the therapist has had lots of supervision and has used an accurate assessment tool.
• A user who received EMDR as a client suggests that BLS isn’t necessary and the therapy is a powerful tool.
• A user who did not find EMDR to be helpful for attachment wounds notes the newer research indicates that EMDR is most effective for trauma wounds and BLS may not be the key to its effectiveness.
• A therapist who underwent EMDR training notes that the training was very rigid, and therapists were, in fact, encouraged to follow the manual precisely.
• A therapist who has done advanced EMDR training comments that she was told that EMDR is a therapy, not just a treatment modality, and that therapists should integrate it into their practice in a way that suits them.
• The containment skills (Calm Place and Container) are frequently used, and therapists can adapt the EMDR script to their own style if they feel comfortable with the basics.
• Some therapists emphasize that good supervisions with someone who works with children is imperative.
• The MID (Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation) assessment tool is recommended for highly-dissociative clients, alongside the Structured Clinical Interview for Dissociative Disorders (SCID-D).
• A user recommends Anna Gomez as a resource for therapists who work with children.
• Finally, the users discuss various assessment tools for measuring dissociation. Some users have developed their own Excel files to score the MID automatically. The MID is also available online for free.

• The webpage on Reddit is titled “How much should a session of EMDR cost?” It was created three years ago.
• The author expresses difficulty finding a therapist with EMDR training that fits their budget, as they’ve seen prices for sessions starting at $140 each. They question whether this is the expected cost for EMDR therapy given that it is too expensive for them to pay for weekly ($1400 for ten sessions).
• One commenter says that they never paid for EMDR, instead using TurboEMDR, which is a free resource that was helpful to them.
• Another commenter suggests seeking direct pay discounts and payment terms from therapists. They also recommend looking for subsidized mental health services if available, such as those offered at University Teaching Hospitals.
• A third commenter suggests finding a pro bono therapist to work on coping skills first, as it will be helpful in the long run before starting EMDR therapy.
• A fourth commenter recommends looking for EMDR-certified therapists rather than just those who are trained since certification requires more extensive training and experience with the therapy.
• There are suggestions for finding affordable EMDR therapy, including looking for student clinics and asking if therapists offer income-based payment calculations.
• Multiple commenters provide information on the cost of their therapy sessions ranging from $140 to $150 per session and discuss the positive impact it has had on their lives.
• Some individuals recommend alternative resources to EMDR therapy, including YouTube, books, and online support programs. One person recommends trying a weighted blanket for muscle aches that may come with uncovering trauma.
• A few commenters express the difficulty of finding or affording EMDR therapy and suggest looking into subsidized services or waiting lists. One person mentions that they have NHS coverage, but their waiting list was 10-12 months long.
• The webpage does not address whether EMDR is a pseudoscience.

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• EMDR therapy is a mental health treatment technique that involves moving your eyes while processing traumatic memories or distressing life experiences.
• Compared to other therapy methods, EMDR is relatively new, with the first clinical trial investigating EMDR in 1989.
• EMDR relies on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, a theory about how your brain stores memories. The AIP model recognizes that your brain stores normal and traumatic memories differently.
• The way your mind works relies on the structure of your brain involving networks of communicating brain cells across many different areas. That’s especially the case with sections that involve your memories and senses.
• EMDR therapy doesn’t require talking in detail about a distressing issue, it focuses on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviors that result from a distressing experience.
• Trauma is like a wound that your brain hasn’t been allowed to heal because it didn’t receive the message that the danger is over.
• EMDR therapy can help people with a wide range of mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression disorders, traumatic disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, and adjustment disorders.
• EMDR therapy consists of eight phases, including patient history and information gathering, preparation and education, assessment, desensitization and reprocessing, installation, body scan, closure and stabilization, and reevaluation and continuing care.
• Eye movements are the most common sense used in EMDR, but it can also involve other senses such as sound or touch.
• EMDR therapy is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and government organizations and agencies in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany, among others.
• Dozens of controlled trials and research studies have analyzed EMDR and shown that it’s effective.
• EMDR therapy is very common around the world, and in the United States, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense list EMDR as a “best practice” in treating veterans experiencing PTSD.
• While controversy surrounds the theory behind why EMDR works, EMDR has been proven effective by numerous research studies and is widely recognized by healthcare providers as a useful trauma therapy.

Karma for Recommendations: N/A (no Reddit)

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• URL: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskWomen/comments/4nhzua/have_any_of_you_ever_tried_eye_movement/

• A user posted the question asking if anyone had tried EMDR therapy and what their experience was like on a thread in the AskWomen subreddit.

• The responses are mainly positive in favor of EMDR therapy.

• A user comments that EMDR therapy worked for them, and if the eye movement is difficult, ask the therapist if they could try tapping instead. Be prepared to go through a lot of emotions, and it is fascinating to read the theory and research behind it. (6 karma)

• Another user reports that EMDR therapy helped them work on PTSD. The process involves setting up a safe happy place memory that you will access when you need it. You then remember the traumatic events as vividly as possible and then go back to the happy place at the end. Then, you can process the trauma with your therapist. It helped them work through their trauma and made them no longer triggered when reminded of the events they worked through. (7 karma)

• A user asks if EMDR therapy works for panic attacks. Another user comments that it probably does. (1 karma)

• Another user shares their experience with EMDR therapy. They processed through all the trauma they experienced in high school, including sexual abuse and relationship stuff. They also repressed years of anger and became a better, more calm, mature, and grounded version of themselves. Being prepared for the unexpected is crucial, mental health care is an ongoing thing, and sessions might go on for a long time if you had several issues needed to be addressed. They did EMDR for two years and stopped when their therapist moved away. However, their brain started doing the shifting on its own when they were processing through some stuff during a Skype meeting. (5 karma)

• A user says they are starting EMDR therapy for the first time on Thursday. They have sessions spaced out so they don’t focus on just one issue when they have several different issues going on. They have noticed a difference, but after several sessions. They have anxiety, depression, and PTSD. They have noticed their reactions to the triggers that remind them of their past events are much less intense and easier to handle. (1 karma)

• A user shared that their parents went for EMDR therapy separately for past trauma, and it really worked for them. The therapist has done therapy on-site for emergency first-responders dealing

Here are the notes from the webpage:

• The original post asks if EMDR is a scam and criticizes the therapy for being overhyped and lacking scientific backing.
• One user suggests that EMDR is similar to taking vitamins; it can help, but it is not a cure-all treatment.
• Another user shares their positive experience with EMDR, saying it helped them with their dissociation and provided tangible results.
• Other users criticize the cost of the certification process for EMDR and the lack of scientific evidence behind the therapy.
• One user explains that EMDR can be dangerous and cause more harm for individuals on the dissociative spectrum.
• The same user shares their experience with EMDR where they still have flashbacks a decade later and their therapist was unable to help them process the trauma.
• Several users criticize cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Sensate Focus for doing more harm than good.
• One user shares their experience with different therapists and how traditional therapies like CBT and Sensate Focus failed to help. They found relief through seeing a psychiatrist who diagnosed them on the first visit.
• The same user acknowledges that there are several academic journal results that show that CBT is ineffective for trauma.
• Other users on the thread ask for sources about the effectiveness of CBT and suggest doing a google search for “CBT ineffective.”
• Throughout the thread, different users share their experiences with different therapy approaches and the effects that they had on their mental health.
• Some users have positive experiences with EMDR, while others criticize its lack of scientific evidence and certification process.
• The thread also highlights the limitations and potential harm of different therapy approaches, such as CBT and Sensate Focus.
• Users discuss the importance of obtaining a diagnosis and finding a therapist who is qualified to treat specific conditions.

• The webpage on Reddit is titled “My opinion on EMDR after some sessions.”
• The author underwent EMDR therapy and shares their opinions and experiences.
• The author describes their initial impressions of EMDR as weird and challenging.
• The focus of EMDR is on honesty and not holding back emotions or thoughts.
• The therapist guides breathing during EMDR when necessary.
• Compared to normal therapy, EMDR requires that individuals do not filter and hold back, so one feels more during the treatment.
• Trauma is reprocessed by talking about it repeatedly, telling details as much as possible and trying to remember any missed or overlooked aspects.
• Loosening the hold of the trauma on the psyche after EMDR therapy usually means increased nightmares, flashbacks, and feeling terrible between sessions.
• Trust between the therapist and the patient is crucial due to the sensitivity of the trauma.
• The author recommends finding a therapist that one feels comfortable with and being prepared to put in 100% effort into EMDR.
• Experiencing EMDR therapy is akin to playing a game on hard mode, as it is tough and challenging.
• EMDR and traditional therapy differ; traditional therapy did little for the author, but EMDR therapy offers one of the best prospects.
• EMDR offers windows of surprising calm and emotional moments
• EMDR helps the author to look forward to their future; their therapist believes having a better future is possible, which not all of the author’s previous therapists considered.
• Another user in the comments section is utilizing EMDR therapy and needs it like breathing, which helps them through trauma.
• The psychology of the author is sensitive so, the tactic of holding the device or a therapist’s hand has helped this Reddit user as they get anxious when other people are too close.
• It took this user about 30 sessions carried out in five years with most of them happening in the first eight months.
• EMDR and HPN (high-performance neurofeedback) help this Reddit user immensely and function better in life.
• A well-trained therapist whom you are comfortable with is essential to the success of EMDR.
• This Reddit user frequently experienced panic attacks after sessions but eventually progressed. After undergoing about 20 sessions of EMDR, they do not feel the need for more as long as they are not retraumatized.

• One user has been going to a therapist for almost two years and still finds it challenging to talk about trauma.

• A user posted a query asking for differences between SE and EMDR (11 points).
• One user states that EMDR is better and has used it with the website TurboEmdr, which is free with guidance (16 karma).
• Another user shares that they received a lot of SE sessions in the past, and from what they know, EMDR is really good for clear/specific “one-off” memorable traumas, while SE is better for more hidden or less-defined traumas (8 karma).
• Another user disagrees with the previous comment, noting that EMDR is also good for prolonged, hidden, or forgotten traumas, clarifying that there is a protocol for “hidden” trauma (1 karma).
• Another user shares that they are trained in both methods, and personally like the SE method more but EMDR can be useful for specific/simple traumas (2 karma).
• One user comments about their debilitating body sensations for the past three years due to a prolonged stressful period, seeking clarification on how EMDR can help with this (1 karma).
• Another user shares that they have done both methods before, and found EMDR to be very dreadful and traumatic, while SE is much gentler and helped them better (3 karma).
• One user who works as an EMDR therapist states that a person needs to make sure to screen for dissociation, disorders, and history - and that EMDR is a very complex modality that is “IMO the best modality for trauma”, while somatic techniques are also helpful for people who cannot connect with their body (2 karma).
• Other users note that SE is more about building skills for sensing emotions, being able to build resilience, and bring mobility back, and doesn’t focus on remembering specific memories (karma ranging from 1-9).
• Some users mention the importance of finding a good practitioner who is experienced, knowledgeable, and competent in using both SE and EMDR to treat various forms of trauma.

💭  Looking into

Recent studies on the effectiveness of EMDR and how it compares to other therapies

💭  Looking into

Overview of EMDR therapy and how it differs from traditional therapies