Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective therapy to work through and heal from past trauma and the emotional distress, core beliefs, and relational patterns that come from the traumatic experiences.

Learn more about EMDR here.
Learn more about therapy for your child/teen at Atlanta Wellness Collective here.

Phases of EMDR

There are 8 phases to EMDR: history taking, client preparation, assessment, desensitization (what most people think of when they hear EMDR — this is the eye movements and reprocessing stage), installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation of treatment effect.

For now, it isn’t necessarily important to know what each of these phases means – you’ll want to know more once you or your child start EMDR treatment — but it’s important to highlight that reprocessing and desensitization to trauma doesn’t happen until after history taking, client preparation, and assessment.

Most clients feel excited and hopeful to dive into EMDR reprocessing after hearing how effective it is – and rightly so – but preparing for EMDR is equally as important, especially for children and teens.

Prepping for EMDR

EMDR can be intense, and it’s important for children and teens to be prepared for what happens during sessions and what could happen in between sessions. Preparation includes building a therapeutic relationship and safety, learning skills and building on resources to help manage any temporary emotional discomfort during or between sessions, and discussing what memories they would like to work with to build a treatment plan.

Each of these things allows your child to feel safe, ready, and prepared to do the EMDR work. While it can take some time, preparing on the front end will set your child up for success and healing through EMDR. It’s important for one to be somewhat stable and ready for EMDR before starting the reprocessing.

What to Expect

Usually, EMDR is conducted by following the therapist’s hand movements or a light bar side to side or with alternating taps on shoulders or knees, whichever is most comfortable for the client. For children and teens, these may not be as effective for different reasons. Some therapists use buzzers that can be worn around the child’s wrists or ankles, walking, or tossing a ball from one hand to the other to stimulate the bilateral movement in one’s brain during the reprocessing stage. Again, to learn more about how EMDR treatment works, read this blog post.

If you’re interested in learning more about the EMDR process for your child, or think that you or your child would benefit from EMDR, email our office for information.

View all EMDR providers under our Provider Directory >

At Atlanta Wellness Collective, we want to help. To talk to someone or schedule an appointment, please contact us at hello@atlwell.com or request an appointment online.

Disclaimer: This blog is not intended to substitute professional therapeutic advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your health concerns and before starting or stopping therapies. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct professional advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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