The internet has been a bit of a mixed blessing when it comes to mental health. Yes, scrolling and clicking have brought greater awareness to such widespread issues as trauma. That said, memes and GIFs are not ideal sources for learning about complex conditions. Therefore, it makes sense to do deeper dives to better comprehend mental health disorders and their treatments.
An excellent example is complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD). While many folks have a basic understanding of PTSD, complex trauma requires a different lens. From there, we can begin exploring the effectiveness of an approach like eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR).
What Is EMDR?
Let’s begin with a refresher on the basics of the concepts in this post. Originally created to help trauma survivors, EMDR is a unique form of psychotherapy that is not applied to a wide range of mental health problems. It involves these elements:
- The client chooses a negative memory or thought pattern to focus on while an EMDR therapist performs hand or finger movements in front of their face.
- Following these movements with their eyes will guide the client into a state similar to REM sleep.
- In this state, they can access distressing memories without getting triggered. Thus, these memories can be processed, resolved, and replaced with a positive thought or belief.
EMDR for people with PTSD may last anywhere from 8 to 20 sessions — and its track record is exceptional.
What Are Complex Trauma and C-PTSD?
What makes trauma complex is when it happens in a sustained, relentless manner. The painful events might often involve abuse, trafficking, being in a war zone, or chronic neglect. To state it simply, someone who has endured or witnessed a single traumatic event is at risk for PTSD. When the negative events just keep coming, the outcome is more likely C-PTSD. The symptoms of both disorders overall at times but addressing them can involve different approaches.
EMDR Therapy for C-PTSD: Adapting Techniques for Complex Trauma
Research has found EMDR is be a wise choice for both PTSD and C-PTSD. For PTSD, the description above is basically how it should go. However, some modifications are required for treating survivors of complex trauma. Here are two sample adaptations to consider:
1. Time Frame
It’s a straightforward equation. If a client has an abundance of traumatic experiences and memories to deal with, it will probably take longer than treating someone with PTSD. There is no specific recipe for gauging how long it will take but it’s safe to say it will exceed the standard 8–20 sessions.
With complex trauma, the memories can be diverse yet intertwined. This requires time and diligence to unpack and address. But, rest assured, it’s not about the specific session count. What a skilled EMDR therapist brings to the table is the experience needed to parse out what needs to be done.
2. The Presence of Dissociation
Complex trauma can leave a victim feeling like there is no escape. Hence, they might rely on a more abstract method of creating distance. Dissociation separates them from feeling their emotions and accepting their thoughts. When taking a medical history before starting EMDR, a therapist will look for signs of dissociation. If dissociation is present, your therapist will most likely address it first.
Moving Forward Toward Recovery
Blending EMDR with traditional talk therapy can be the avenue that guides a complex trauma survivor to process and recover. EMDR can be very helpful for C-PTSD, but it needs to be adapted to the needs of the client. This requires specialized training on the part of the therapist and experience treating complex trauma. I invite you to reach out and connect to learn more about this healing modality.