HELP TOPIC
EMDR THERAPY
It has already been a quarter of a century since the world first heard about this method for overcoming fear. To date, more than 2 million people have used the method successfully. The effectiveness of EMDR for people with minor and major trauma has been clinically proven. When we use the word TRAUMA, we mean the psychological effects of a negative experience that cause disorganization and dysregulation of the human physiological system.
Symptoms of traumatic experiences may include insomnia, reduced concentration, intrusive (involuntary, intrusive) memories, irritability, and many others. All of this can be the result of a single violent traumatic event, but also of many individual difficult life events that do not meet the criteria for major trauma yet still negatively affect functioning in many areas of a person’s life. Difficult life experiences related to work or partner relationships can be just as significant in the development of severe stress symptoms as a single, serious trauma.
It is also not a given that an objectively traumatic event must lead to negative consequences that meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. The relationship between its intensity and duration, as well as individual predisposition, is important. Much always depends on our personality, our ability to cope with stressful situations, and also on external support: family, partner, etc. However, what matters is whether the difficult event has been processed or has been ‘pushed’ into a dark corner of the (sub)conscious. In this context, therapy for post-traumatic stress or trauma in the broadest sense appears particularly important. One of the most effective and increasingly available therapies is EMDR therapy.
Key assumptions
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a recognized method for treating trauma that has proven its effectiveness for both minor and major trauma. The basic principles of EMDR are:
- Trauma: Psychological effects of negative experiences that lead to disorganization and dysregulation of the physiological system.
- Symptoms: Insomnia, reduced concentration, intrusive memories, irritability, etc., resulting from traumatic events.
- Personal predisposition: How someone processes trauma depends on personal characteristics, resilience to stress, and external support.
A form of therapy
EMDR is an eight-phase therapeutic approach with a standardized treatment protocol:
- Intake and evaluation: Gathering information about the difficulties and drawing up a therapy plan.
- Preparation: The patient is prepared for processing trauma through techniques for self-control and stabilization.
- Target identification: Together with the practitioner, the patient selects a specific target to work on.
- Processing: The patient focuses on trauma-related images while following the practitioner’s eye movements or experiencing other forms of stimulation.
- Integration: The information is integrated through repeated eye movements, leading to a restructuring of memories.
- Evaluation: Progress is assessed during and after the sessions.
- Closure: The patient is instructed to take notes after the session and record any new thoughts or memories.
- Reevaluation: Progress is summarized and evaluated at the next session.
Causes of conditions
Trauma can result from a single violent event or from multiple difficult life events that do not meet the criteria for major trauma. It is not always self-evident that an objectively traumatic event will lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Intensity, duration, and personal factors play a role in the severity of the consequences.
Limitations
EMDR does not require a detailed description of traumas, direct confrontation with beliefs, or exercises outside the sessions, as is the case with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The number of sessions is often smaller, which can contribute to the effectiveness of treatment for complex trauma. However, not every patient is suitable for EMDR, and its effectiveness may vary depending on individual factors and the nature of the trauma.
Therapy methods
EMDR works by processing traumatic memories through:
- Desensitization: The blocking of trauma-related information is lifted through eye movements.
- Processing: Unpleasant memories are integrated with adaptive information, leading to changes in thoughts, emotions, and beliefs about oneself.
Strengths
EMDR has proven highly effective in reducing trauma symptoms. The method is recognized by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, and the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Research shows that EMDR can be effective after as few as six sessions and may perform better than pharmacotherapy in relieving symptoms of stress and depression.
ISSUES
TYPES OF THERAPY
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
GGZ voor elkaar in Utrecht is a healthcare institution that brings together some of the best specialists in mental health care in the Netherlands. Our team members specialize in various treatment methods. The main methods used at our institution include the following.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the best-researched therapeutic approaches, the effectiveness of which has been confirmed by numerous clinical studies. Its origins date back to the 1960s, when the American psychiatrist Aaron Beck successfully began using his cognitive therapy for depression. Beck's method, which points to the crucial importance of negative beliefs about oneself, the world, and other people in the development of depression, has become a source of inspiration for creating cognitive models of other mental disorders and a form of therapy based on changing maladaptive beliefs.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
It has already been a quarter of a century since the world first heard about this method for overcoming anxiety. To date, more than 2 million people have used the method successfully. The effectiveness of EMDR in people with both minor and major trauma has been clinically proven. When we use the word TRAUMA, we mean the psychological consequences of a negative experience that causes disorganization and dysregulation of the human physiological system.
Mentalization-based therapy (MBT)
Mentalizing refers to our ability to understand mental states—our own and those of others. We mentalize when we try to understand our own behavior and that of others in the context of intentions and other internal states. Focusing on this specifically human capacity, and treating it as an instrument for therapeutic intervention, forms the basis of mentalization-based therapy. MBT was initially developed for working with patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), but is currently used across a broader spectrum of disorders (for example, antisocial personality disorders, family therapy, and adolescent therapy).
Dynamic interpersonal therapy (DIT)
Dynamic interpersonal therapy (DIT) is a straightforward short-term (16 sessions) individual treatment protocol for mood disorders. The protocol was developed based on the work of an expert reference group in the field of clinical competencies, which worked on identifying key elements from psychoanalytic/dynamic therapies. This is an easy-to-follow, semi-structured treatment protocol. This protocol for short-term dynamic work is intended to be implemented nationwide as part of the IAPT program for working with patients with depression, and therefore DIT training is supported by IAPT.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
Psychodynamic therapy is a child of psychoanalysis, but it forms a separate approach due to numerous adaptations that distinguish it from the original. As the name suggests, psychodynamic therapy focuses.
IPT (Interpersonal Therapy)
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on improving the quality of interpersonal relationships and addressing problems that contribute to mental health complaints. IPT has proven particularly effective in the treatment of depression and other mood disorders, but can also be useful for other mental health conditions. Below is a detailed description of IPT.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness, or focused awareness, is a mental method in which you direct your full attention to the present moment, without judgment. It involves consciously experiencing what is happening right now, both within yourself (your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations) and around you (your surroundings and events). By practicing mindfulness, you learn to approach your everyday experiences with greater awareness and acceptance.
Exposure therapy
Exposure therapy is an evidence-based treatment technique that is used to treat anxiety and avoidance problems. The goal of this therapy is to help people reduce their fearful or stressful responses to certain situations, objects, or thoughts through gradual and controlled exposure to these fears. Exposure therapy is often used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, such as phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social anxiety disorder.