Re:spontaneous emdr - clarity

Just wanted to clarify that what I experienced that one time was not my usual response following an emdr session. The continued processing that has occurred following emdr has not been like I was doing an actual emdr session with my therapist. Furthermore, the sort of processing that occurs when I journal either on my word processor or in my journal is not quite the same as this particular experience was. Also, the experience I had occurred a number of weeks after the most recent emdr session. I was fortunate that this particular experience did not lead me into something more traumatic and it is not my intention to attempt to repeat the experience as I understand/recognize the strength of material that can be elicited by an emdr session. If this sort of experience were to happen again and, especially, if it brought up more difficult material I would discuss with my therapist further ways to contain things and/or how to manage such an event if it were to happen once more. I would not advocate that anyone try to somehow reproduce an emdr session for themselves at home, this to me is a risky practice - unless of course you are a well trained therapist who knows what he/she is doing and exactly why. Perhaps there is some space for self-administering emdr, however, I would expect that the person will discuss this with his/her therapist and be clear on what to do, purpose etc.etc.

Just want to make it clear that the particular experience I had was not immediately following an emdr session and that it was not my ususal sort of response to such sessions. So, if anyone is worried they will suddenly somehow start processing a lot of stuff as if doing an actual emdr session please don't be overly conerned. I don't know why I had the experience I did, what triggered it, how it was triggered.

Replies:

I wouldn't call it spontaneous emdr....just like it in some ways, by Curious, 04/19/01

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