Leone Centre Glossary

Emotional Regulation in EMDR

Emotional Regulation

Emotional regulation is a fundamental aspect of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Emotional regulation in EMDR refers to the process of managing and responding to emotional experiences in a healthy way. This includes recognising, understanding, and modulating emotions during and after EMDR sessions. It is essential for successful EMDR therapy as it ensures clients can handle the emotions that arise during sessions.

Common challenges

Emotional overwhelm: People often struggle with intense emotions that can be difficult to manage, which can be particularly challenging during trauma therapy.

Misconceptions: There are misunderstandings about what emotional regulation means and how it functions within EMDR.

Benefits:

  1. Promotes psychological well-being
  2. Aids in reducing emotional distress
  3. Supports long-term healing

How it helps

Therapeutic value: By improving emotional regulation, clients can better engage in EMDR therapy, leading to trauma processing and recovery.

How it works

Mechanisms in EMDR: During EMDR, clients are guided to focus on traumatic memories while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (e.g., eye movements). Emotional regulation methods are used to help manage the emotional responses that this process can trigger.

FAQs

What is emotional regulation?
Emotional regulation is the ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences in a healthy and balanced way.
Why is emotional regulation important in EMDR?
It ensures that clients can handle the emotions that arise during EMDR sessions, promoting processing of traumatic memories.
How does EMDR help with emotional regulation?
EMDR uses methods that help clients manage their emotional responses, facilitating the healing process.

References

  1. Shapiro, F. (2001). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures. Guilford Press.
  2. Leeds, A. M. (2016). A Guide to the Standard EMDR Therapy Protocols for Clinicians, Supervisors, and Consultants. Springer Publishing Company.
  3. Solomon, R. M., & Shapiro, F. (2008). EMDR and the Adaptive Information Processing Model: Integrative Treatment and Case Conceptualization. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 2(4), 315-325.
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This glossary provides definitions of various counselling terms and approaches for informational purposes only, without implying endorsement or service provision