Navigating Mental Health and Trauma: Talk Therapy vs. EMDR
Traditional talk therapy has long been the cornerstone of mental health treatment.
Under the expansive umbrella of talk therapy lie numerous approaches, among them the popularly practiced cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), humanistic therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.
In talk therapy sessions, regardless of the modality that’s used, clients have a safe, confidential space to verbally address and work through whatever challenges they’re facing—particularly but not exclusively as it pertains to their mental health—with a licensed therapist or counselor. Talk therapy is typically open-ended and unstructured, providing a collaborative and supportive environment for clients to gain self-awareness, process emotions and trauma, develop coping skills, and work toward growth and healing.
Despite its efficacy in many cases, talk therapy has its limitations, especially when it comes to addressing trauma.
Traumatic experiences often reside in the subconscious mind and body, rendering talk therapy alone insufficient. While clients may intellectually understand the root causes of their distress, the emotional and physiological impacts of trauma may persist, manifesting in symptoms such as chronic nervous system dysregulation, flashbacks, dissociation, and more.
For people for whom talk therapy is not enough, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy offers hope.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR is a structured evidence-based approach that minimizes verbal dialogue. Instead, it employs bilateral stimulation—usually through rhythmic eye movements, as well as hand taps or sounds—to access, process, and integrate traumatic memories, thereby alleviating associated distress. Clients who have undergone successful EMDR therapy experience a transformation in their negative self-beliefs and perceptions of the world, along with a decrease in physiological arousal triggered by traumatic memories.
EMDR is not meant to be a long-term therapy but, instead, takes place over the course of eight distinct phases. Research consistently shows its effectiveness in treating trauma-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD. In fact, 2018 systematic narrative review found EMDR to be more effective than other PTSD treatments—and across diverse cultural contexts (Wilson et al., 2018).
While initially developed as a trauma-specific treatment, EMDR has demonstrated efficacy in addressing a broader spectrum of mental health concerns, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
By accessing and reprocessing memories contributing to mental health challenges such as these, EMDR facilitates profound cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and somatic shifts, ultimately fostering greater emotional resilience and well-being.
Moreover, EMDR may serve as a promising option for people struggling with disordered eating behaviors. By addressing adverse events that have shaped beliefs and behaviors surrounding food and body image, EMDR enables individuals to develop a more compassionate, balanced relationship with food and their bodies.
While talk therapy remains an invaluable tool in mental health care, EMDR can help people access and process deeply rooted traumas that may be resistant to talk therapy methods.
By integrating EMDR into therapy, clients may experience breakthroughs and insights that were previously inaccessible, leading to profound healing and personal growth. Together, talk therapy and EMDR offer a synergistic approach to mental health care, addressing both the conscious and subconscious aspects of the psyche, promoting holistic healing and well-being.
Begin Working With a Trauma Therapist in California
If you or someone you know has unresolved trauma and is not already seeing a therapist, the Kindful Body team is here to support you. Please reach out to us today to connect with one of our clinicians and begin your trauma healing journey. At Kindful Body, we utilize the most cutting-edge, evidence-based approaches for trauma, including EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Somatic-based modalities. You can begin therapy with us by following these steps:
Schedule a 15-minute consultation with our client care coordinator.
Connect with one of our compassionate, trauma-informed therapists.
Start overcoming trauma in a more healthy way!
Other Services Offered by Kindful Body
Our team is happy to offer a variety of services in support of your mental health. This is why our team is happy to offer support with eating disorder counseling, low self-esteem issues, emotional eating recovery, nutrition counseling, binge eating disorder, and body image. You can start receiving support from Sacramento, San Jose, Oakland/Berkeley, Walnut Creek, San Mateo, Orange County, CA, or anywhere in California. Learn more about us by checking out our blog and FAQs page.
References
Wilson, G., Farrell, D., Barron, I., Hutchins, J., Whybrow, D., & Kiernan, M. D. (2018). The Use of Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy in Treating Post-traumatic Stress Disorder-A Systematic Narrative Review. Frontiers in psychology, 9, 923. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00923