What To Expect After an EMDR Session

As a certified EMDR therapist in Fishers, Indiana, I love EMDR and use it, at some point, with most of my clients.  EMDR is a powerful treatment approach that is evidence-based and highly-researched for trauma, anxiety, and a long list of other concerns.  As I’ve discussed in other posts, I’ve seen such healing (often much more quickly than with regular talk therapy) and it’s so rewarding to be able to view this progress from right across the room.

However, EMDR is not easy work.  I always want my clients to feel prepared for how they might feel after an EMDR session.  Here are a couple things to be aware of:

• There are a variety of “normal” ways to feel at the end of an EMDR session (this varies from client to client, and also varies from session to session, depending on what happens in the session and what kind of stopping point we reach).  Some people feel tired (this is very common; the brain is doing a lot of work during EMDR!)  Some people feel emotional, like their emotions are right under or on the surface.  Some feel very relieved.  All of these responses are normal and to be expected.
• EMDR therapists are trained to leave time at the end of each session, if needed, for containment or grounding exercises.  If it looks like a memory will not resolve by the end of the session, I’ll make sure to lead you through some calming techniques so you don’t leave in a highly-anxious or emotional state.  Remember that you can also use your Calm Place or Container resources at home (you can do this without tapping, or with slow taps back and forth on each side of your body.
• Because we’re not sure exactly how you’ll feel when you leave, I encourage clients to pad their schedule for a little extra me-time after therapy each week.  Make sure you don’t have to rush back to work if you find you need to stop for a favorite coffee, take a quick walk, or have a few moments for some deep breaths.
• Between sessions, your brain will continue working on the material you’ve opened up.  Some people notice dreams, thoughts, memories, etc along the lines of what we’ve been working on.  Usually these are just things to notice and observe, but if you find yourself feeling distressed, please contact me.  You can also use the attached log to track any new material that comes up so you can tell me about it in your next session.

Here is a metaphor I found on an EMDR blog that is helpful in understanding how EMDR can continue throughout the week:

Imagine you enter a room full of balloons from floor to ceiling.  As you enter, your face presses tightly against the first balloon.  How many balloons can you see?  Just that one.  However, if that balloon pops or deflates, suddenly you can see lots of other balloons.  But these balloons were always there; you just could not see past the balloon that was pressed against your face.  The same thing can happen to traumatic memories.  You have one which at present you can’t see past, but others may or may not appear over the next few days.  This is normal.  You are not going crazy, losing your mind, or getting worse. In fact, you are moving toward healing.

If it’s helpful to you, feel free to use this log to track material that comes up between sessions so we can discuss it together.  This is optional and you don’t have to fill in each category.

Memory	Image	Belief	Emotions	Body Sensations

 

I hope this helps you feel even more prepared for your upcoming EMDR session.  If you think you’d benefit from EMDR, contact me for an intake session and let’s discuss how EMDR could help you “put the past in the past.”