In recent years, EMDR therapy has become increasingly popular. If you’re interested in EMDR, you might be wondering if it’ll work even if you don’t vividly remember a lot of details from your past. You may have noticed how difficult it is to chronologically remember your traumatic experience and recount it to your therapist. This can make you feel inept and unable to connect with others.

The great news is that you don’t need to remember something clearly to process it! Your memories don’t need to be accurate because even a blurred idea of what happened will suffice. What we examine in EMDR therapy is your present-day experience of and response to that memory. This includes the original remnants that show up such as somatic sensations, thoughts, or feelings.

When working with an EMDR therapist, they’re not creating anything new or making up a memory, they’re simply working with whatever shows up and lowering the disturbance associated with it.

Is EMDR the Same as Hypnosis?

During hypnosis, a clinician deliberately induces you into an altered state of mental relaxation. EMDR, on the other hand, attempts to gently connect with an anxious mental state. 

During EMDR you are fully awake and in control at all times. EMDR therapists actively use relaxation techniques to manage any disturbance that comes up, but you are always present during the sessions.

Can EMDR Therapy Be Done Online?

Absolutely! The results are the same (in-person vs telehealth/Zoom). Some people find it more comfortable to undergo EMDR from the comfort & familiarity of their own home.

Many therapists have reported good success with patients they’ve worked with to provide EMDR virtually. While there may be challenges to working remotely, most of them can be overcome.

How Long Does It Take To See Results from EMDR?

How fast you see results from EMDR completely depends on the individual and the issue(s) they want to work on. Some people say they start to feel better by their first appointment, others say they start to feel better by their 3rd or 4th appointment.

Can You Work on Two Traumatic Memories at Once? 

A single traumatic event will most likely take fewer sessions to process than childhood trauma. However, research has shown that EMDR therapy patients typically see improvement much faster than talk therapy. The gains from one session tend to improve with each subsequent session.

The benefit of EMDR therapy is you don’t need to work on every single traumatic memory that you’ve experienced. Memories cluster based on symptoms, negative thoughts, and emotions. So working on a single memory can positively affect similar ones.

An EMDR therapist can help you find the relief you need from symptoms of a trauma. At Calm Again Counseling, we offer EMDR therapy in Oakland. To learn more about our practice in Oakland, call (415) 480-5192.