You may have heard that EMDR therapy is dangerous, but it’s important to know that EMDR has been shown to be effective in treating trauma and other mental health conditions. While EMDR is generally considered safe and is well-tolerated, there are some potential risks and side effects associated with the treatment. This article details those risks and side effects, but let’s start by defining EMDR.
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What Is EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of psychotherapy frequently used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other disorders that can be trauma related. Like any form of therapy, there are potential risks and side effects associated with EMDR. As a part of an informed consent process, a therapist is obligated to tell you about the risks and side effects of EMDR if that modality is planned for your treatment.
The initial phases of the EMDR protocol are all about preparing you for reprocessing prior to that part of the treatment starting. The practitioner will thoroughly take your history and teach you coping skills that assist with managing EMDR and potential side effects. That’s because part of the desensitization phase of EMDR requires you to sit with an uncomfortable memory, which may cause heightened emotions or body sensations. But an EMDR therapist will develop a treatment plan that helps minimize this and keep it both manageable and tolerable.
During the desensitization phase of EMDR, you are instructed to remember the traumatic event while simultaneously being exposed to bilateral stimulation. This distraction allows you to recall the distressing memory in a new way so as to normalize the memories and make them less triggering and painful. In other words, EMDR allows you to process the traumatic event and the corresponding emotions in a more efficient and controlled way.
EMDR has been found to be effective at treating several mental health conditions, particularly those related to trauma. Some of the conditions that EMDR has been found to be effective in treating include:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): EMDR can help you process traumatic memories and reduce the intensity of symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance.
- Anxiety disorders: EMDR has been found to be effective in treating various anxiety disorders. It can help you reprocess traumatic events that trigger anxiety and reduce anxiety symptoms overall.
- Depression: While EMDR is not typically used as a primary treatment for depression, it has been found to be helpful in reducing depressive symptoms if you have experienced trauma.
- Addiction: EMDR has been used as an adjunct therapy for addiction treatment. It can help you process the underlying trauma that may be contributing to your addiction.
Related Reading: What is EMDR Therapy and How is it Used?
Is EMDR Right for Me?
There are some common misunderstandings about EMDR which may add to confusion about whether it is the right treatment for you. These myths also drive the erroneous belief that EMDR is dangerous. Understanding how EMDR works can help you determine if it will be beneficial for you.
Common myths about EMDR include:
Myth 1: EMDR is hypnosis.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, or movement using both sides of the body, to stimulate the brain’s natural ability to process information. This typically includes eye movements, which reminds people of hypnosis, but EMDR is not hypnosis. It does not induce the trance-like state of hypnosis, but rather, EMDR keeps you grounded in the present.
Myth 2: EMDR is brand new.
While EMDR is becoming more well known lately, it was developed almost 40 years ago. Since then, a huge volume of high quality research studies have been conducted on EMDR showing its efficacy. In fact, EMDR is so effective and evidence-based that the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense, the American Psychiatric Association, and the World Health Organization all have acknowledged it as a top tier treatment for PTSD.
Myth 3: EMDR can plant false memories.
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EMDR cannot create a memory that wasn’t already there. It corrects false meanings that the brain has attributed to the memories of traumatic events and other sources of distress. For example, a false meaning such as “I am terrible” might be replaced by “I’m fine as I am.”
Myth 4: EMDR can cause me to go crazy.
Any mental health therapy has potential to be uncomfortable. While discomfort is likely, going “crazy” or becoming so uncomfortable that you can’t return from it is highly unlikely. That’s because part of the EMDR protocol is developing resources and tools that help you weather distress. You can use these while reprocessing or even at home if distress emerges.
Myth 5: You need to talk about all the details of the trauma.
One benefit of EMDR is that you do not need to share all the details of a painful trauma. The therapist only needs to know a few general details to help you reprocess.
Myth 6: EMDR is only for PTSD.
While it is most commonly utilized as a treatment for PTSD, EMDR can also treat anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and other conditions. Specific additional EMDR protocols have have been developed to help you if you’re stuck in grief, dealing with a phobia, and much more.
Myth 7: I can start EMDR on the first day of my therapy.
While some people are ready to work on their traumatic memories immediately, EMDR requires thorough history-taking, planning, and preparation. It will typically take a few sessions before the reprocessing begins.
Side Effects of EMDR
It’s important to note that EMDR risks are relatively rare. Many people have found EMDR therapy to be an effective and helpful treatment for many disorders. However, it’s always a good idea to talk to a licensed mental health professional about any concerns you may have before starting any new form of therapy.
As for side effects, people often report feeling tired after an EMDR session. This is because the brain is working hard to reprocess memories and make new neural connections. I suggest to my clients that they take a nap after an EMDR session, if possible, to help with the memory consolidation process. I also recommend drinking lots of water afterwards and eating healthy food rather than low-nutrition snacks.
Some people may experience discomfort during EMDR therapy, as it often involves revisiting traumatic memories. EMDR can sometimes trigger intense emotions, such as sadness, anger, or fear or physical sensations related to the traumatic experience. It may also lead to vivid flashbacks or nightmares, though this is rare. EMDR therapists are trained to help clients manage these feelings and provide support throughout the process.
Another side effect of EMDR can be increased dreaming during sleep. I give my clients a heads-up that they may experience more vivid dreams in the week after a session, because it is common for individuals to notice new dreams or shifts in recurring dreams. Your therapist will check in with you about this throughout the treatment, as it can show that your brain is reprocessing.
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In some cases, EMDR therapy can briefly worsen symptoms before improving. This may occur when the therapy uncovers previously suppressed emotions or memories. As you focus on a past memory, other memories may arise, which can be unsettling. Your therapist will work with you to determine how to contain and/or work on these additional memories.
One final side effect is that the eye movements, sounds, or other forms of stimulation used during EMDR therapy can sometimes cause physical discomfort, such as eye strain, headaches, or dizziness. Typically, if discomfort is experienced with one variety of bilateral stimulation (BLS), the therapist simply switches to another type of BLS. So be sure to let your EMDR therapist know if you’re experiencing strain in any way.
These side effects typically don’t last very long. As the therapy progresses, you continue to process the traumatic memories. This processing and resolution of trauma-related emotions improves well-being.
Importance of EMDR Training
EMDR is not appropriate for everyone and should only be used by trained professionals (more about that in the next section). EMDR therapy is a structured treatment modality comprised of several stages. These stages are intended to set a pace that is neither too quick nor too distressing for the client. Evoking traumatic memories too early in the process can be too distressing and take an emotional toll. If you become too overwhelmed, the treatment will no longer be therapeutic. The therapist must carefully assess your readiness and your ability to tolerate the trauma processing itself before moving into the desensitization phase sessions that involve the eye movements.
While EMDR can be a highly effective treatment, there are some cases in which it may not be as successful or may even go wrong. One reason is an incorrect diagnosis. EMDR may not be the appropriate treatment if you have not been accurately diagnosed. In addition, EMDR requires you to be emotionally stable enough to handle the intensity of the treatment. If you are not adequately prepared for the treatment or are not emotionally ready to handle it, it could lead to a negative outcome.
EMDR involves revisiting traumatic experiences, which can be difficult and uncomfortable. If you do not trust the therapist or feel safe with them, it could lead to a negative outcome. EMDR requires a thorough treatment plan that takes into account your specific needs and symptoms. The therapy will not be effective if the treatment plan is not tailored to your individual needs.
It’s important to note that negative outcomes from EMDR are relatively rare. If you are considering EMDR as a treatment option, it’s essential to discuss any concerns or questions you may have with a licensed mental health professional trained in using EMDR.
Related Reading: How to Heal Grief with EMDR and Somatic Therapy
Where to Get EMDR Therapy
EMDR requires specialized training that is not part of the required coursework to become a general therapist. Just because a therapist has the appropriate credentials to practice therapy doesn’t automatically mean they can deliver EMDR, as well.
While an EMDR certification isn’t required, certification or membership with EMDRIA (EMDR International Association) can ensure the therapist is actually trained in the use of EMDR. Having said that, not all EMDR therapists have EMDRIA membership. If you’re considering having EMDR done with a therapist, ask if their training was provided by the EMDR Institute or an Institute-affiliated provider. If so, they have received genuine EMDR training.
Many therapists at Life Care Wellness are trained in EMDR. If you would like to discuss whether it may be an appropriate treatment for you, Please reach out to us in our Northern Illinois locations in Glen Ellyn, Chicago (Jefferson Park), Sycamore, or Yorkville.
Rhonda Kelloway is the owner and principal therapist at Life Care Wellness, a group psychotherapy practice in Glen Ellyn, Sycamore, Yorkville, and Chicago (Jefferson Park neighborhood), Illinois. She is a trauma specialist utilizing a Somatic Experiencing framework to utilize the body’s wisdom in healing. She also uses EMDR and a variety of traditional psychotherapy approaches in her work. In addition to being a psychotherapist, she is a trained divorce and family mediator.
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