Everything You Need To Know About Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing; The New Type Of Psychotherapy

EMDR Has Been Used to Treat Children and Adolescents

While EMDR is primarily used in adult clients, it has also been used with children and adolescents. EMDR has shown to be effective with children who are dealing with a wide array of symptoms of emotional trauma, including a fear of death, anger, sorrow and grief, hopelessness, and anxiety or panic. Children with various forms of autism have also experienced successful EMDR treatments. EMDR is one of the most highly-recommended forms of treatment for children with PTSD. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) and California Evidence Based-Clearinghouse for Child Welfare strongly recommend that children and adolescents with PTSD undergo EMDR with a well-trained therapist.

EMDR Sessions

EMDR sessions normally last for anywhere from an hour to an hour-and-a-half, which is the typical duration of any therapy session. During the first session or two, the therapist will go over the client's psychological history and what EMDR might be able to do to help the individual work through their past traumas. The client is welcome to ask questions and voice their concerns. The therapist typically lays out the EMDR format for the client, explaining that EMDR is an eight-phase process that can take eight or more sessions, depending on how things progress. If the client feels uncomfortable with EMDR, they are free to opt out of this treatment.