Eye Movement Therapies

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What is an Eye Movement Therapy?

Davidson Family Therapy utilizes two types of “eye movement” therapies, EMDR and ART. EDMR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and ART or Accelerated Resolution Therapy are therapies typically used to treat trauma by moving the clients’ eyes left and right while they recall a traumatic event or something that is bothering them, such as persistent depression or obsessive thinking. EMDR and ART are similar in that they are both eye movement therapies, but differ in protocols and philosophies.

What is Accelerated Resolution Therapy(ART)?

Accelerated Resolution Therapy or ART is a revolutionary treatment for various mental health disorders and concerns. This therapy can help clients remove distressing images and sensations that keep them stuck by use of the eye movements and changing the story and images tied to a stressful or traumatic event.

For an even better understanding and to hear from the creator, Lainey Rosenzweig, click here for a video.

What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy was developed in the late 1980’s by Francine Sharpio. While working on her dissertation, Dr. Sharpio, by chance, found that when she brought up a disturbing image from her past, moving her eyes back and forth relieved some of the intensity of the disturbing memory. Dr. Sharpio began to try this on her friends and came to the same conclusion, that when a distressing memory is recalled while utilizing this bilateral eye movement, the disturbance within the memory lessened. Soon, she began to use this technique on her clients and found the same results of a decrease in distress related to the past memory. Since then, EMDR has been a widely studied and utilized form of treatment for those struggling with PTSD and other mental health diagnoses.

How does Eye Movement Therapy help?

While the neurobiology of how this therapy works is unclear, it is understood that the bilateral stimulation initiated through eye movement or tactical stimulus is effective for reprocessing and consequently diminishing the severity of a traumatic memory. Eye movement therapy seems to be similar to Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep and is thought to have a similar type of neurological impact on the brain. When people experience trauma, the body reacts with the perception of danger. Some people become frozen with fear in response to a life-threatening or perceived life threatening event. The freezing is what is thought to cause PTSD, because the unprocessed energy is absorbed in the body. Eye movements help to reprocess the event through the cognition, emotions, and bodily sensations associated with the memory.

What does Eye Movement Therapy help with?

EMDR and ART are well known for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as other adverse childhood and adult experiences. This therapy is not solely for the use of treatment of PTSD. When people have been in therapy for years without success of meeting their goals, it is possible that there is something that is being missed, because of a blocked memory.

EMDR is effective in treatment for:

  • PTSD

  • Acute Stress Disorder

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Adverse Experiences/memories

  • Panic Disorder

  • Phobias

  • & More

*Please note we do not treat substance use disorders, eating disorders or dissociative disorders at this practice

What does EMDR look like?

If you ask people who have tried EMDR they will tell you it looks silly. Essentially, there is bilateral stimulation involving the eyes, or in laymen's terms, you follow a therapist’s fingers, hand or a tool like a wand while bringing up a memory. Although the conventional method of EMDR is waving a tool in another's face, there are other forms of bilateral stimulation. Other forms  include tactile stimulation, or auditory stimulation for people who may have vision problems or prefer another method. 

There are eight stages of EMDR, and when we talk about EMDR, we are referring to the fourth stage of the process. It is important to not expect to jump into the fourth stage on the first session. While there may be an urgency to begin this therapy, so that a person can feel better, it is important that the procedures are followed for the best possible outcomes. 

Which should I choose EMDR or ART?

After successful processing using EMDR the person who has experienced trauma may no longer experience distress in the form images, sensations, thoughts or emotions when the image of the memory is brought up. Although the memory is still readily available to the person, the emotional disturbance and physical impact is lessened, or absent. EMDR integrates the sensations, images, thoughts and emotions that are associated with the memory, in a way that the body is able to reprocess as neutral when the memory is recalled.

Therapists who use Eye Movement Therapies:

Julia Rose- Trained in EMDR and ART- Uses ART only

Kristen Nelson- ART only

Jullee Capshaw- ART only

Kelly DiCarltonio- EMDR only (virtual only therapist)

Madalyn Derrick- EMDR only (ages 5-13)

Common Questions about Eye Movement Therapies:

What if I do not see in pictures/images (aphantasia)?

  • This is not a problem. You will be instructed to think about the event/issue verbally instead of with images.

Is this safe? Will it cause me seizures?

  • This therapy is perfectly safe. Remember we move our eyes bilaterally every night. This therapy has not been known to cause seizures, but if you are prone to seizures you will want to talk with your doctor first to get a doctor’s note. Because these therapies activate bodily sensations, it is possible that you will experience the same physical sensations you had when the trauma was occurring, but these therapies help rewire the brain to help the sensations move and dissipate.

What if I have multiple “scenes” or events that do not string together?

  • This is perfectly fine. In therapy, big-T traumas are typically referred to as a one-time isolated event that negatively impacted a person long after the event was over. This usually includes car accidents, an isolated sexual assault, witnessing a death or another one-time occurrence. Small-t traumas are not small at all, but rather many events that occur regularly, even every day. Small-t trauma typically include intimate partner violence, bulling, or adverse childhood experiences such as growing up in a home with high conflict. These small-t events can still be worked on and grouped together, so no need to feel overwhelmed and think that you are too much or have too much.

How do I know if I am a good candidate for this therapy?

  • If you can move your eyes left and right, have something you want to work on and are motivated to change, this is the therapy for you.

Davidson Family Therapy is now offering EMDR in the Davidson, NC area!

EMDR and ART helps millions of people overcome their problems. Click here to set up your eye movement therapy session today!