There are many approaches to therapeutic work. Two popular modalities are talk therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). They work well in tandem, but there are distinctive differences in how these treatments look and feel in the therapy room.
What is Talk Therapy?
Talk therapy encompasses a wide range of philosophies and stylistic approaches to treatment and is primarily based on reciprocal therapeutic dialogue between a therapist and a client. Clients often engage in some form of open conversation with their therapist about a challenge or dilemma. Through this conversation, they receive resources such as guidance, skills, techniques, validation, and insight. The therapeutic relationship is a crucial part of accessing the benefits of talk therapy, and this relationship helps clients feel seen, heard, and supported as they wrestle with various challenges. Talk therapy can bring many positive benefits to an individual’s emotional, social, and spiritual life, and such benefits can improve well-being and functioning. Some common evidence-based types of talk therapy include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy. Each type has a unique theoretical underpinning as well as an approach to initiating growth. Regardless of the specific approach, most talk therapy involves a conversational and relational vehicle to help enact change.
What is EMDR?
EMDR is an evidence-based modality that also involves dialogue between client and therapist, a therapeutic space where a client feels safe and seen, and incorporates a specific protocol for identifying, desensitizing, and reprocessing past trauma. This protocol follows a particular set of steps that starts by having clients target specific events or experiences from their lives. Once a trauma target is identified, the client will work with their therapist to engage in a series of exposure-type exercises where a client focuses on the traumatic experience while receiving bi-lateral stimulation (moving eyes from side to side, holding hand paddles that buzz back in forth, or listening to sound on headphones that vacillates from ear to ear). This bilateral stimulation helps a client’s nervous system activate the brain’s natural ability to process past experiences, similar to what happens during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. Activating this natural processing state helps move traumatic material otherwise stuck in the nervous system.
When traumatic material is left untreated in this stuck state, it can lead to symptoms common to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, such as intense emotions, fear responses, and physical discomfort when reminders of trauma are present. EMDR helps reprocess difficult experiences so a client’s nervous system will no longer be triggered in the same ways it used to. In addition, reprocessing traumatic material allows clients to form a new, more balanced belief system about themselves, others, and the world in general. EMDR is often more methodical and experiential than pure talk therapy, and many times, EMDR leads to the integration of cognition, emotion, and body. Over 40 years of research show that EMDR is highly effective, but it also requires specific preparation and should always be guided by a trained therapist.
Multiple Paths to Healing
Healing can happen in a variety of ways. Talk therapy can be very effective, as can EMDR, when each is appropriately applied. While not mutually exclusive, each style of therapy has its place in the healing process. Understanding the role of each form of therapy can help clients make informed decisions about the care they pursue and the results they can expect to achieve. In any case, it is crucial to cultivate a healthy therapeutic relationship with a competent clinician who can help guide you toward making the best treatment choices for your healing and growth.
About the Author
Joey Tadie, PhD, LCP
Dr. Joey Tadie is a talented psychologist with a gift for connecting with people. He is trained in EMDR and psychedelic-assisted therapy. He brings his high-energy, encouraging style to his work with clients dealing with depression, relationship problems, and trauma. He has special expertise in exploring spirituality and religion in therapy.
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