LEONARD THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE
SUBJECT : CRISIS COUNSELLING
TOPIC : EMDR THERAPY
SUBMITTED TO : MR. ABHINILESH PRAKASH SIR
SUBMITTED BY : KAMLESH R. PETER (B.D. IV)
SUBMISSION ON : 21st MARCH, 2022
1. What is EMDR Therapy? The mind can often heal itself naturally, in the same way as the body does. Much of
this natural coping mechanism occurs during sleep, particularly during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
Francine Shapiro developed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in 1987, utilizing this
natural process in order to successfully treat Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Since then, EMDR has been
used to effectively treat a wide range of mental health problems.
2. History: The development of EMDR began in 1987 when Shapiro recognized the effects of eye movements on
disturbing memories. This led to her developing a treatment protocol she named Eye Movement Desensitization
(EMD). Coming from a behavioural background, Shapiro initially perceived the impact of the eye movements to
be similar to that of systematic desensitization, and believed it was based on an innate relaxation response. She
also assumed that the EMD process was related to the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep phenomenon and its
effects. Her initial research was a randomized trial showing promising results in the treatment of sexual assault
victims and war veterans.
3. The eight-phase treatment approach: The eight-phase treatment approach The EMDR integrative
psychotherapy approach uses an eight phase protocol that guides the clinician in dealing with current
psychological difficulties that are based on past negative events.
3.1. Phase 1 – Client history The clinician obtains general psychological background focusing on current
strengths and difficulties, past events that are related to the current problems, situations in the present in
which the problems are triggered, and positive future goals.
3.2. Phase 2 – Preparation The clinician prepares the client for the processing of memories by establishing a
therapeutic relationship, offering psychoeducation regarding his difficulties as well as an explanation of the
EMDR process, and teaching the client specific kinds of self-calming techniques to assist the client in
maintaining a “dual awareness” during the subsequent processing sessions.
3.3. Phase 3 – Assessment The clinician helps the client to identify the details of the target memory, including the
central image, the currently held negative cognition, the desired positive cognition, the currently felt emotion
and physical sensation, and several baseline measurements.
3.4. Phase 4 – Desensitization The clinician follows and guides the client’s processing of the disturbing memory
of past or current target event. Positive future behavioural templates are also processed at a later stage. The
processing includes changes in sensory, cognitive, emotional and somatic information. The goal of this phase
is to bring the disturbance associated with the memory to the lowest possible level, and enhance personal
growth through the development of insight and new perspectives resulting in a new sense of self and world
view.
3.5. Phase 5 – Installation The clinician helps the client identify the current desired positive self-belief in relation
to the memory, and strengthen it, thus facilitating the memory’s integration in to adaptive memory networks.
3.6. Phase 6 – Body scan The clinician facilitates the client’s identification and processing of any residual somatic
sensation, with the goal being a complete somatic resolution.
3.7. Phase 7 – Closure The clinician gives the client feedback about the session and what to expect after its
completion. The client is asked to keep a brief log of in between session psychological reactions. If needed,
the clinician will use relaxation techniques to help the client stabilize before he leaves the session.
3.8. Phase 8 – Re-evaluation The clinician assesses the client at the beginning of the following session focusing
on treatment effects and evaluating what has happened in between sessions. This also includes re-accessing
the previously processed target to evaluate maintenance for treatment effects and if any other aspects need
additional processing. The information is used by the clinician to determine the next step(s) in the course of
treatment.
