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

Installation, Desensitization, and Body Scan

Installation involves taking the thoughts and feelings that were reprocessed during Desensitization and installing healthier ones. For example, a person who has previously been traumatized by the sudden loss of or abandonment by a loved one should be able to confidently and honestly say something along the lines of "I am loved." The client is then asked to rate their thoughts and emotions again. Once they reach a Level 7 self-statement, they proceed to Body Scan, which involves paying attention to differences in physical responses to the traumatic stimuli. The goal is for the client to feel physically calm and relaxed.

Closure and Reevaluation

Closure should ideally occur at the end of each session, as the therapist engages the client as to how they are feeling. The client should feel better at the end of the session than they did at the beginning, although this might not always be the case. If the client reports that they do not feel better, another session of the same phase might be in order. In that case, the therapist will suggest that they try this phase again in their next meeting. It is also important for a therapist to gauge how the client is feeling outside of each session. Once closure is achieved, the client and therapist reevaluate to ensure that the client is continuing to experience positive results.