Who is EMDR for and not for?
EMDR is a powerful form of therapy that seeks to tap into the brain’s natural information processing system to “digest” the distressing memory so that the past no longer has such a powerful hold on the here-and-now. If you haven’t yet read this post on what EMDR is, it may be helpful to read that first.
Since I work with professionals in Ontario, I wanted to breakdown and give a few examples of the types of workplace difficulties that can benefit from EMDR. This form of therapy is also not immediately suitable for everyone, so I have also outlined contraindications for EMDR in this post.
First, let’s talk about the types of concerns that can benefit from EMDR.
Vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue
This one is particularly relevant during the pandemic for healthcare workers. If you’re someone who works with trauma and/or in a caring profession where you engage empathetically with trauma survivors, vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue can take a heavy toll on your quality of life, enjoyment of your career, and level of performance. EMDR aims to reprocess events that contribute to these concerns so that you can reconnect to yourself, your calling, and the people you support.
Workplace relationship difficulties
This may seem counter-intuitive, but relationship patterns play out in the workplace through interactions with peers, employees, managers/leaders, and clients/customers. Tensions and issues with any of these relationships may be indicative of past relationship concerns being triggered in the present. EMDR may help you to identify and move through the influence of the past to engage more effectively with current relationships.
Pressures from rigid beliefs
There’s a lot of pressure to be productive in our society. If you’re someone who experiences productivity, performance, and achievement to be tied to your self-worth and how good of a person you are, then the workplace and your job performance might be a major source of stress. You might have difficulties finding balance between work and life, setting boundaries even when needed, and letting go of thinking about work in your personal time. EMDR may help you to identify rigid beliefs that may be trapping you and reprocess memories that solidified these beliefs.
Social fears & anxieties
The experience of anxiety and fear during presentations, sharing your thoughts in meetings, or engaging socially with colleagues and clients/customers may be influenced by negative past experiences of being made to feel embarrassed, ashamed, or like you’re not good at being social. There are certainly ways of improving your public speaking and social skills, and EMDR might help to make gaining these skills easier through reprocessing the associated distressing memories.
EMDR may not be immediately suitable for everyone.
It may not be suitable for you right away if you:
Currently are in a situation that’s unstable or unsafe,
Have difficulties connecting with your feelings or staying in your body/the room when being reminded of past trauma,
Find it impossible or extremely difficult to regulate your emotions,
Regularly use drugs and alcohol and are unable to stop, OR
Have an impending legal procedure (especially one related to the concern that you’re looking to address). In the case of impending legal procedures, EMDR has been found to alter the images associated with a traumatic memory, and may therefore impede your ability to provide an account of the event. If this applies to you, please talk to your lawyer before proceeding with EMDR.
If any of the above applies, you may benefit from receiving another form of therapy first.
If you’re interested in trying EMDR or want to discuss if this is a suitable treatment for you, please feel free to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me.