Both EMDR therapy and traditional talk therapy can help you work through difficult emotions, experiences, and patterns. The biggest difference is how you work with what’s bothering you.
What Is Traditional Talk Therapy?
In traditional talk therapy, you usually spend time talking with a therapist about what you’re experiencing.
You might discuss:
Stress, anxiety, or depression
Difficult relationships
Past experiences
Thoughts or beliefs about yourself
Current problems at home, work, or school
Patterns you want to understand or change
Your therapist may ask questions, help you recognize patterns, teach coping skills, or help you look at a situation differently.
Talking through your experiences can help you better understand what you feel, why you may feel that way, and what you can do moving forward.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s often used to help people process trauma and distressing experiences.
EMDR doesn't require you to spend the entire session describing an upsetting event in detail.
Instead, your therapist helps you briefly focus on a difficult memory, thought, feeling, or physical sensation while using bilateral stimulation. This may involve moving your eyes from side to side, tapping, or hearing alternating sounds.
The process is designed to help your brain reprocess the experience so it doesn't continue to feel as emotionally intense or disruptive.
For example, you may still remember what happened, but the memory may no longer bring the same overwhelming fear, shame, panic, or physical reaction.
Do You Have to Choose One?
Not necessarily.
Many therapists use EMDR alongside traditional talk therapy. You may spend some sessions talking about what's happening in your life, learning coping skills, or understanding emotional patterns. During other sessions, EMDR may be used to work more directly with certain memories or experiences.
Neither approach requires you to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Your therapist can talk with you about what you've been experiencing and help determine which approach, or combination of approaches, may be useful for you.
For more information about therapy or to schedule an appointment, reach out today.