Therapy Overview: Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing
About the Author
Remy Springer, LICSW, is a social worker who has been in private practice for six years in the Boston area. She specializes in working with Neurodivergent adults as well as Neurodivergent couples navigating the complexities of their relationships. She also specializes in working with folks who have experienced trauma, often utilizing EMDR and other approaches.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic approach designed to help individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences. EMDR involves recalling distressing memories while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, which is using both sides of your body, such as guided eye movements or tapping your knees. This process is thought to reduce the emotional intensity of the memory and help the brain reprocess it in a more adaptive way. EMDR is an evidence-based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and recognized by the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization. Many clients report significant relief from symptoms after several sessions.
Many Autistic folks or those who identify as Neurodivergent have experienced trauma throughout their lives from various experiences like bullying or from feeling that they don’t fit into society. While processing traumatic memories, EMDR also helps people gain insight into their trauma; they will typically have a better understanding that their experiences are not their fault which can be extremely cathartic. Additionally, EMDR can help with other mental health issues that many neurodivergent people experience like anxiety and depression.
When beginning EMDR treatment, it’s always important to move at a pace that is safe for the client and to ensure they have coping skills to manage any trauma symptoms that may arise. This is especially important for Neurodivergent clients who may have experienced trauma for much of their life or childhood. As a clinician, I ensure that clients are ready and understand what this process looks like. Additionally, in my experience, many Neurodivergent clients remember upsetting or traumatic events very clearly with extreme details. Because of this, it may take a bit longer for memories to be processed. Lastly, as mentioned, EMDR typically involves moving one’s eyes back and forth. If this (or anything else) causes any sensory issues or overload, it is possible to do the bilateral movements another way including tapping your knees or shoulders which can decrease some of the overwhelming feelings. Overall, EMDR is an effective, evidence -based treatment that can really help Neurodivergent people live with fewer trauma-related symptoms or PTSD.
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