Whether you’ve tried traditional talk therapy or not, you may be wondering how long it will take to get over your trauma. Unfortunately, there isn’t a one size fits all approach when it comes to therapy. Each individual has a unique experience and response to different types of therapy depending on their own trauma.
If you’ve tried traditional talk therapy and do not see the results you hoped for, it may be time to look into other options. On the other hand, if you haven’t tried traditional talk therapy but are interested in exploring options, look no further.
EMDR may be exactly what you’re looking for. Let’s explore more about EMDR and the amount of time it takes to start working.
Defining EMDR
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR was developed specifically for healing from trauma. Traumatic experiences can live in the mind, but a majority of the time, people tend to store traumatic experiences within their bodies. The founder, Dr. Francine Shapiro, founded EMDR when she noticed she could process her own stressful memories by moving her eyes from one side to another.
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy helps to reduce the negative thoughts, memories, and feelings associated with trauma. It’s believed that EMDR works in the same way that the brain processes memories during your REM cycle while sleeping. During REM, your brain will discard any memories that no longer serve you and keep the useful memories. The shift of eyes back and forth and side to side is similar to what happens when you’re sleeping.
A therapist will work with you during an EMDR session to think of a certain memory while guiding your eyes through different positions to replace the negative memories with more positive ones to fully process and move forward again.
What is EMDR Used For?
EMDR is used for trauma, but it’s also used for a variety of other mental health conditions. Here are some of the most common mental health conditions that EMDR is used for in addition to trauma:
- Addiction
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief
- Panic attacks
- Substance use and abuse
How Long Does it Take for EMDR to Start Working?
Now that you know a little bit more about EMDR, you’re probably wondering how long it takes to start working. A EMDR therapy session typically lasts between 60-90 minutes. The number of sessions is dependent on each individual’s unique situation. If you’ve experienced more than one trauma, it’s likely you’ll have to go through more sessions than someone who has gone through less traumatic experiences.
That being said, research has shown that most individuals start to see improvements in their signs and symptoms in as little as 6 to 12 sessions. Some individuals have even reported showing signs of improvement in as little as 3 sessions.
Next Steps
First things first, therapy can seem like a scary step to make, but it doesn’t have to be. Despite how you may be feeling, you don’t have to go through this alone. Help is available to you. You just have to be able to ask for it.
The fact that you’re taking the time to research different treatment options shows that you’re already willing to put in the work to make your life better moving forward. You should be proud of yourself for that. You deserve to be happy and content in your life.
If you’re interested in learning more about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy or seeing if it’s the best treatment option for you, reach out to us today to set up a consultation.
