EMDR Therapy in Atlanta

EMDR therapy in Atlanta is structured into eight phases. 

Phase 1

During the first phase of EMDR therapy, the patient meets with the therapist to discuss their history of trauma and establish their treatment goals. During this initial phase, the therapist and patient may begin to identify specific traumatic memories to address in future sessions.

Phase 2

The second phase of EMDR therapy focuses on preparing the patient for treatment. Phase two is when the therapist usually explains the features and procedures of EMDR therapy. The patient may also practice the types of eye movements that will play an important role in future phases.

Phase 3

Phase three is often referred to as the assessment phase. This is when a specific traumatic memory is selected. The patient will discuss their thoughts and feelings about this event. This will help the therapist establish a baseline for how the patient has been impacted by the traumatic memory.

Phase 4

The fourth phase of EMDR therapy is the desensitization phase. During phase four, the patient will move their eyes back and forth, following visual directions provided by the therapist. At the same time, the patient will focus on the traumatic memory that was identified during phase three. Over time, this process will help patients experience increasingly lower levels of distress when they recall the traumatic memory.

Phase 5

When a patient’s emotional distress has been minimized, they are ready for phase five, or installation. This is when the patient begins to replace their negative reaction to the traumatic memory with a healthier, more positive emotional response. 

Phase 6

Following the installation, phase six involves an activity called a body scan. To complete the body scan, the patient will think about the traumatic event and the positive thoughts they developed during phase five. While doing this, they will determine if they are feeling stress or other pain anywhere in their body.

Phase 7-8

The final two phases of EMDR therapy are closure and reevaluation. 

Closure typically occurs at the end of every EMDR session. Closure activities ensure that the patient has returned to a calm, relaxed state.

The reevaluation phase will be the first activity during the patient’s next session. This is when the patient and therapist will review what they’ve accomplished thus far and discuss goals for the current and future sessions.