How does EMDR work?
Though there are many hypotheses to how EMDR works, it appears that much like REM sleep which helps us process unconscious material, EMDR unlocks the traumatic incident(s) in the mind. The images, sounds, smells associated with the traumatic event are encapsulated so to speak, and engaging the client in bilateral stimulation, whether tapping, eye movements, or alternating sound with a headset allows the mind to “unlock” the stored material. Allowing the mind to freely associate after initially focusing on a target memory helps the information move from an unprocessed form where the client can still access the physical sensations, and feelings of the experience to the adaptive neural network. Target planning involves using past, present and future memories/potential experiences which relate to negatively stored memories (Laliotis & Shapiro, 2022).
In addition to the Adaptive Information Processing model to explain how EMDR works, others contend that dual attention through use of bilateral stimulation is the mechanism of action. Simultaneous recall of memory paired with attending to current stimulation taxes the working memory (Wadji et al., 2022). Through this attending to the original images, thoughts and sensations, dampen such, thereby reducing distress. Whether the AIP model, or the working memory theory are responsible for the success of EMDR, one thing is clear, it is successful. Clients wishing to process trauma can do so in a way which is less time consuming and costly than alternatives such as traditional talk therapy, and CBT.
Laliotis, D., Shapiro, F. (2022). EMDR Therapy for Trauma-Related Disorders. In: Schnyder, U., Cloitre, M. (eds) Evidence Based Treatments for Trauma-Related Psychological Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97802-0_11
Wadji, D. L., Martin-Soelch, C., & Camos, V. (2022). Can Working Memory Account For EMDR Efficacy In PTSD?.
