Summary
Therapists Kathy Dan Moore and Jess Lowe discuss EMDR therapy in an accessible format, with Kathy Dan sharing her experience as an EMDR-trained clinician. They walk through the eight phases of EMDR therapy, from history taking and client preparation through desensitization, installation of positive cognitions, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. Kathy Dan describes how adding EMDR to her therapeutic toolkit was like going from working with one hand tied behind her back to having full capabilities. The conversation covers the research backing EMDR, noting that 84-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have PTSD after three 90-minute sessions, and 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD after 12 sessions. They emphasize that EMDR is not limited to big-T trauma and PTSD, but is effective for anxiety, depression, anticipatory anxiety, and any kind of emotional stuckness. The episode also addresses practical details including how bilateral stimulation works through paddles, auditory tones, or eye movements, and how EMDR can target past events, present triggers, or future anxieties.
Key Points
- 84-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have PTSD after only three 90-minute EMDR sessions
- 100% of single-trauma and 77% of multiple-trauma victims lost PTSD diagnosis after six 50-minute sessions (Kaiser Permanente study)
- 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD after 12 sessions
- EMDR has eight phases: history, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation
- EMDR is not limited to big-T trauma; it effectively treats anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and emotional stuckness
- Bilateral stimulation can be done through tactile paddles, auditory tones through headphones, or eye movements
- EMDR can target past events, present triggers, or future anticipatory anxiety
- Body scans during phase six reveal where trauma is held somatically, such as tension in the throat relating to not feeling heard
- Over 100,000 clinicians worldwide use EMDR; recognized by the APA, WHO, and Department of Defense
Key Moments
EMDR as a game changer for therapists who hit walls with clients
Kathy Dan describes how adding EMDR to her practice was a game changer, comparing pre-EMDR therapy to working with one hand tied behind her back. She initially was slow to believe but kept seeing clients referred to EMDR come back transformed.
"introducing EMDR into my therapeutic bag of tricks has really been a game changer. Some people describe their work pre-EMDR like providing therapy with one hand tied behind their back, and I now really see what they mean by that."
Research showing rapid PTSD resolution with EMDR
The hosts cite multiple studies showing EMDR's remarkable effectiveness: 84-90% of single-trauma victims lost PTSD after three sessions, 100% of single-trauma victims after six sessions (Kaiser Permanente), and 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD after 12 sessions.
"some of the studies showed that 84 to 90% of single trauma victims no longer had post-traumatic stress disorder after only three 90 minute sessions."
The eight phases of EMDR therapy explained
Kathy Dan walks through all eight phases of EMDR: history taking, client preparation with safe place and breathing tools, assessment to determine the target, desensitization with bilateral stimulation, installation of positive cognitions, body scan for somatic holding, closure, and reevaluation.
"it sounds so structured with the eight phases, but we could be really, really flexible."
