How many EMDR sessions will I need?
EMDR is an individual therapy typically delivered one to two times per week for an average of 6-12 sessions, although some people benefit from fewer, and some from more sessions.
In general, ‘the more isolated the traumatic memory being treated, the shorter the treatment tends to be. People with multiple traumas and/or complex histories of childhood abuse or neglect may require more extensive therapy, including substantial preparatory work in phase two of EMDR.
Studies relating to the number of sessions required have shown:
- 84-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have PTSD after only 3 sessions (lasting 90 minutes each)
- 100% of the single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims no longer were diagnosed with PTSD after only 6 sessions (lasting 50 minutes each)
- 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD in 12 sessions
Please remember, these are not medical recommendations. Be sure to work with a professional to find the best methods for you. EMDR should always be delivered by properly trained therapists.
How effective is EMDR?
Research has shown that EMDR can be very effective, very quickly in treating PTSD and C-PTSD.
Read about some of the research that has been done in this area here .
What happens in an EMDR session?
Find out more about the different phases of EMDR treatment and how the sessions will differ as you progress.
Things to know before starting EMDR therapy
It’s important for people to go into EMDR therapy with an full understanding of what the treatment requires and entails.
EMDR Treatment Case Studies
Universiteit van Amsterdam (UVA). (2017, June 29). PTSD in children quickly and effectively treatable within hours. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 23, 2021 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170629085311.htm
Carletto Sara, Borghi Martina, Bertino Gabriella, Oliva Francesco, Cavallo Marco, Hofmann Arne, Zennaro Alessandro, Malucchi Simona, Ostacoli LucaTreating Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing the Efficacy of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and Relaxation Therapy Frontiers in Psychology VOL. 7 2016 Page 526 https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00526 DOI10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00526
Chen L, Zhang G, Hu M, Liang X. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing versus cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult posttraumatic stress disorder: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2015 Jun;203(6):443-51. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000306. PMID: 25974059.
Chen Y-R, Hung K-W, Tsai J-C, Chu H, Chung M-H, Chen S-R, et al. (2014) Efficacy of Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for Patients with Posttraumatic-Stress Disorder: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. PLoS ONE 9(8): e103676. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0103676
Bisson, J., Roberts, N.P., Andrew, M., Cooper, R. & Lewis, C. (2013). Psychological therapies for chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003388.pub4
Bradley, R., Greene, J., Russ, E., Dutra, L., & Westen, D. (2005).A multidimensional meta-analysis of psychotherapy for PTSD. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162, 214-227.
Lee, C.W., & Cuijpers, P. (2013). A meta-analysis of the contribution of eye movements in processing emotional memories. Journal of Behavior Therapy & Experimental Psychiatry, 44, 231-23
Seidler, G.H., & Wagner, F.E. (2006). Comparing the efficacy of EMDR and trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of PTSD: a meta-analytic study. Psychological Medicine, 36,1515-1522.
Acarturk, C., Konuk, E., Cetinkaya, M., Senay, I., Sijbrandij, M., Gulen, B., & Cuijpers, P. (2016). The efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression among Syrian refugees: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Psychological medicine, 46(12), 2583-2593
Raymond W. Gunter, Glen E. Bodner, How eye movements affect unpleasant memories: Support for a working-memory account, Behaviour Research and Therapy, Volume 46, Issue 8, 2008, Pages 913-931, ISSN 0005-7967,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2008.04.006.
Comparison of two treatments for traumatic stress: A community-based study of EMDR and prolonged exposure, Ironson, B. Freund, J. L. Strauss, J. Williams
Scheck MM, Schaeffer JA, Gillette C. Brief psychological intervention with traumatized young women: the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. J Trauma Stress. 1998 Jan;11(1):25-44. doi: 10.1023/A:1024400931106. PMID: 9479674.
PTSD in children quickly and effectively treatable within hours
Here’s What You Need To Know Before Your First EMDR Therapy Session
Hello! Did you find this information useful?
Please consider supporting PTSD UK with a donation to enable us to provide more information & resources to help us to support everyone affected by PTSD, no matter the trauma that caused it
PTSD UK Blog
You’ll find up-to-date news, research and information here along with some great tips to ease your PTSD in our blog.
Trauma and Fibromyalgia
Understanding the Link Between Trauma and Fibromyalgia Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and fibromyalgia are two very distinct conditions, but they share a closer connection than one might imagine. People with PTSD often display symptoms of fibromyalgia, and vice versa,
Case Study: CBT Treatment – Matthew
Case Study: CBT Treatment – Matthew A traumatic experience at work over 30 years ago left Matthew with PTSD, which at times left him with anxiety, panic attacks and unable to leave his own home. Matthew used CBT to learn
Pause and Be Days
Thriving Through ‘Pause and Be Days’ For people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), the unending quest for self-improvement, the relentless pursuit of healing, and the expectation to maintain unwavering ‘strength’ can become
sleep and cortisol in PTSD
Understanding the 3 AM Wake-Up Call: Cortisol and Sleep in PTSD & C-PTSD The tranquility of nighttime can often be disrupted for many people, leaving them wide awake around 3am. This phenomenon, while common, takes on a deeper significance for
poetry anthology
Healing Through Poetry: ‘Hiding in the Sea from the Rain In the realm of trauma recovery, the power of art and words cannot be underestimated. They offer solace, empowerment, and a voice to those who have endured the ‘storms of
Love Harlso Collaboration
Love Harlso and PTSD UK – our new dog accessory collection Uniting Compassion and Canine Comfort: We’re proud to introduce Love Harlso and PTSD UK’s Collaborative Collection of dog accessories to support owners and raise awareness. In a heartwarming collaboration
Treatments for PTSD
It is possible for PTSD to be successfully treated many years after the traumatic event occurred, which means it is never too late to seek help. For some, the first step may be watchful waiting, then exploring therapeutic options such as individual or group therapy – but the main treatment options in the UK are psychological treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprogramming (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
Traumatic events can be very difficult to come to terms with, but confronting and understanding your feelings and seeking professional help is often the only way of effectively treating PTSD. You can find out more in the links below, or here.