Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)

There are several phases to EMDR therapy.

• Phase 1: The therapist explores the patient’s history and plans for treatment.
• Phase 2: The second phase is preparation where the therapist sets a reasonable level of expectations.
• Phase 3: The third phase is assessment where the therapist works with the patient to identify specific memories to process during treatment.
• Phase 4: The fourth phase is desensitization. This is the phase where there is going to be a change in the trauma based sensory experiences.
• Phase 5: The fifth phase is the installation phase. This is when the therapist works with the patient to increase the strength of positive thoughts over negative thoughts.
• Phase 6: The sixth phase is where the therapist scans the patient’s body to check for any stress responses.
• Phase 7: The seventh phase is the closure phase where self-control techniques taught in previous phases are repeated. The therapist works with the patient to bring the patient back to a state of normalcy and to record any disturbances that come up between sessions.
• Phase 8: The eighth phase is reevaluation where the therapist works with the patient to identify any other additional traumas and creates improvement plans.