Relationships

Singles

Therapy

Trauma

Addiction

Relational Cultural
   Theory

Clinical Supervision
   for New Clinicians

Testimonials

Make appointment

Important Insurance
   Information

Client Intake form

EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Randy Markey is a Level II trained provider of EMDR and a member of EMDRIA.   He was trained in 2001 by Laurel Parnell PhD, the author of A Therapists Guide to EMDR and several other primary textbooks on EMDR;  in an Intensive Training Course given at Kripalu, and has been delivering EMDR for PTSD, Complex Trauma, Phobias, and Anxiety since that time.  The following is EMDR explained in detail.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)1 is a comprehensive, integrative psychotherapy approach. It contains elements of several different kinds of therapies in a structured system that is designed to make treatment work as effectively as possible.

EMDR is an information processing therapy and uses an eight phase approach to address all the things that might contribute to a wide range of psychological and physical ills. It focuses on past experiences that have caused the initial problems or upsets, the current situations that trigger dysfunctional emotions, beliefs and sensations, and the positive experience needed to enhance future adaptive behaviors and mental health.

During treatment various procedures are used to address the entire clinical picture. One element is "dual stimulation" using side to side eye movements, tones or taps. During the reprocessing phases the client pays attention to past memories, present triggers, or anticipated future experiences while simultaneously focusing on the tones or taps. During that time, clients generally experience the emergence of insight, changes in memories, or new associations. The clinician assists the client to focus on appropriate material before initiation of each subsequent set.

Eight Phases of Treatment

The first phase is a history taking session to establish client's readiness for EMDR and make a treatment plan. We make targets for EMDR processing. These include recent distressing events, current situations that are emotionally disturbing, related history, and the needed skills for future situations.

During the second phase, the therapist insures that the client is stable enough to handle emotional distress. If additional skills are needed, therapy focuses on providing these.

In phase three through six, a target is identified and processed using EMDR. These involve the client identifying the most vivid image related to the memory, a negative belief about self, related emotions and body sensations. The client also identifies a positive belief. The client rates the intensity of the negative emotion.

The client focuses on the image, negative thought, and body sensations while moving his/her eyes back and forth following the therapist's fingers for 20-30 seconds. Therapists may use tones, tapping, or other tactile stimulation in lieu of eye movements. The clinician instructs the client to let his/her mind go blank and notice whatever thought, feeling, image, memory, or sensation comes to mind. In most cases a client-directed association process is encouraged. This is repeated numerous times throughout the session. If the client becomes distressed or has difficulty with the process, the therapist follows established procedures to help the client resume processing. When the client reports no distress related to the targeted memory, the clinician asks him/her to think of the preferred positive belief that was identified at the beginning of the session, or a better one if it has emerged, and to focus on the incident, while simultaneously engaging in the eye movements.

After several sets, clients generally report increased confidence in this positive belief. The therapist checks with the client regarding body sensations. If there are negative sensations, these are processed as above. If there are positive sensations, they are further enhanced.

The next session begins with phase eight, re-evaluation of the previous work, and of progress since the previous session. The overall goal of EMDR treatment is to produce the most comprehensive and profound treatment effects in the shortest period of time, while simultaneously maintaining a stable client within a balanced system.

After EMDR processing, clients generally report that the emotional distress related to the memory has been eliminated, or greatly decreased, and that they have gained important cognitive insights. Importantly, these emotional and cognitive changes usually result in spontaneous behavioral and personal change, which are further enhanced with standard EMDR procedures.

At the therapists discretion, some of these steps may be shortened or put together. This description represents an original, formal description. Please refer to me for how I have modified some of these steps.

EMDR Sessions Are Normally 90 minutes Long The Fee is $200. This is NOT insurance covered.

Lexington Counseling Center with Randy Markey MSW LICSW counsels in Lexington MA and surrounding areas including Arlington, Acton, Belmont, Burlington, Bedford, Cambridge, Concord, Carlisle, Lincoln, Newton, Winchester, Wilmington, Wayland, Weston, Waltham, Watertown, bringing connection and communication to couples with relationship problems.