Why Didn’t EMDR Work For Me?

There could be a variety of reasons why EMDR didn’t work such as lack of training from your therapist, lack of preparation prior to reprocessing, or blocking emotions and body sensations that need to be felt during the reprocessing. In my experience, most issues with EMDR stem from either a lack of training or lack of preparation. 

Your therapist wasn’t adequately trained or updated on their training.

EMDR is not an easy therapy to learn or apply. Therapists can be trained in EMDR protocol, yet not have the knowledge on how to apply the protocol to real life client situations. Further consultation is important and necessary once the therapist runs into real world issues that occur after training. This is especially true for clients who have complex PTSD presentations, dissociation, or have a co-occuring diagnosis like OCD.  

Some therapists were trained early in the development of EMDR when clients were asked to list their 10 best and 10 worst life events. When I was early in my training, a consultant recommended that I do this with my client. Let’s just say it didn’t go so well. Listing someone’s 10 worst life events can be rather overwhelming. Another therapist told me that she did not use the assessment form in the process of having the person access the memory. When asked why, she told me, “They did it differently back when I was trained.” 

One way to find an EMDR therapist is through the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) website. EMDR practitioners can continue their training in EMDR and become Certified, which also requires using EMDR with a certain number of clients. With additional hours and training, they can become a Consultant as I have done. Here are some potential questions you can ask an EMDR therapist you are considering:

• How long have you been using EMDR?
• What percentage of your caseload do you use EMDR with? 
• Have you sought continuing education or consultation in EMDR after your training?

As much as I enjoy EMDR, I understand all too well that the processing of a memory can get blocked to the point where intervention by the therapist is necessary. After years of consultation, additional training, and experience with clients, my practice of EMDR is much different than when I started out. By incorporating ego state therapy (parts or inner child work), I found a missing link that has helped many clients get unstuck. Other therapists incorporate Internal Family Systems (IFS), play therapy, or other modalities into EMDR. 

You were given treatment labeled as EMDR that wasn’t EMDR standard protocol. 

When people come to me saying they’ve received EMDR in the past, I’ve learned to ask more details regarding the process. One client told me she was handed tappers (a tool that provides alternating vibrations to the right and left hand) while she was talking in her first session. This is not EMDR! EMDR is more than receiving some type of Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) also referred to as Dual Attention Stimulation (DAS). This client was neither prepared properly (see next point) or given enough information to even consent to EMDR. Unfortunately, this negative experience with something the client was told was EMDR, turned her off to true EMDR therapy.

You were not adequately prepared to start reprocessing trauma.

EMDR has eight phases. The first two phases are history taking and preparation. Clients who are excited to start EMDR may become frustrated during the initial two phases if they have been told that EMDR is going to do amazing things for them. However, if surgeons have to determine that you are healthy enough for surgery, it only makes sense that a therapy involving your brain has a preparation process. 

The biggest mistake I’ve made as an EMDR therapist is moving too fast. When clients are not prepared adequately, they will either under-access or over-access traumatic material. When clients under-access traumatic material, they are not experiencing the pictures, emotions, and body sensations that were occurring at the time of the traumatic event. Clients cannot heal from something they are not accessing. On the other hand, when clients overacess traumatic material, they are overwhelmed by the pictures, emotions, and body sensations that come up for them during reprocessing. I have seen clients who no longer want to reprocess trauma again because they had a negative experience.  

Preparation activities may include mindfulness, feelings identification, developing a safe container to hold trauma, identifying a calm/safe place, or identifying nurturing or protective figures. These are just a few examples. It’s the therapist’s job to assess and identify what preparation materials a client might need prior to engaging in trauma reprocessing. 

You didn’t let go and trust the process

Proper preparation typically prevents this from being an issue. Some clients have difficulty allowing themselves to feel emotions due to invalidation or criticism they received as a child. Other clients may stay in thier head and not connect to their emotions or body sensations. Some clients are afraid on looking internally because they are afraid of what they will find or are afraid of being overwhelmed by it. Being fully imbodied and feeling comfortable enough to share your internal experiences with your therapist are key elements to effective EMDR therapy.

Letting go and trusting the process is an important aspect of EMDR. There is no need to try hard or try to specifically remember something. I encourage my clients to let their brain do all the work. Having a mindful awareness of what is coming up in the mind, body, and emotions and being able to relay this information is paramount. The brain knows how to move towards healing, but it is also important for the therapist to know strategies for getting it unstuck.  

What if EMDR didn’t work for me?

If EMDR was not helpful for you, you may want to pursue a therapist with more training in EMDR therapy or who incorporates other modalities with EMDR. You can also look into other modalities of counseling for trauma such as somatic experiencing, the flash technique, or brainspotting. There is no one size fits all when it comes to therapy. The important thing to understand is that the effects of trauma are highly treatable and not to give up in your healing journey.