EMDR is a relatively new form of therapy that has gained significant popularity in recent years. However, how it has been conducted has quickly expanded due to the growth of telehealth. Today, there are many offerings for “self-administration EMDR treatments” – but can you do EMDR on yourself, and is it safe?

If you’re looking into at-home EMDR treatments, you must proceed with extreme caution and be fully aware of the associated risks before engaging in these programs. In this article, we’ll talk about self-administered EMDR therapy, how it can impact the success of the therapy, and what are the associated risks of doing it yourself!

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What is EMDR?

Before exploring self-administered EMDR, let’s briefly discuss what exactly EMDR is and how it works.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is an eight-phase therapy designed to treat the emotional impact of traumatic events. Guided by a professional therapist, the treatment helps reprocess distressing memories in a safe and controlled environment. It uses bilateral stimulation to activate both sides of the brain, mimicking the natural processing during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep.

While EMDR therapy doesn’t erase trauma, it alters how it is stored within the brain and body, promoting healthier emotional responses. After a successful session, individuals fell more in control and less hindered by repetitive behavior patterns tied to past events.

At NeuroTek, our high-quality EMDR tappers are crafted for professional employment with ease of use and comfort in mind. Each device, from the Classic Tac Kit to the Deluxe Tac Kit, offers effective bilateral stimulation and reliability, globally trusted by therapists.

Can You Do EMDR on Yourself?

So, can you do EMDR therapy on yourself?

EMDR is an effective and safe method to treat PTSD, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. However, while self-administration is possible, it is not something that should be done alone.

EMDR therapy can bring up very strong emotional reactions, vivid distressing memories, and strong bodily sensations tied to traumatic events. It can trigger dissociation or a sense of disconnection from oneself and reality. Therefore, professional guidance is key. The lack of expertise, when self-administered, puts trauma survivors at risk of revisiting traumatic memories when done in an unsupported way.

A trained EMDR therapist goes through extensive training and education to tailor the therapy to each individual’s unique traumatic experience. Attempting EMDR alone can do more harm than good. It’s not meant to be a self-administered treatment.

What Are the Risks Associated With Self-Administered EMDR?

While trying EMDR at home may seem like a good way to save on expenses, there are many risks associated with self-administering this type of therapy. The risks include:

• Worsening symptoms
• Intense abreactions
• Retraumatization
• Creation of false memories
• Ineffective processing of traumatic events

Now that you know the risks involved, it’s clear how important it is to seek a trained professional for EMDR or explore other evidence-based therapies to address traumatic memories and promote healing.

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The Role of a Trained Therapist

The role of a trained therapist is invaluable for EMDR. They help minimize the risks we’ve mentioned and ensure the procedure is both effective and safe for the client.

Essentially, EMDR is more than just eye movement – it’s a comprehensive, multifaceted eight-phase process, which requires experience and training to achieve the best possible results. The stages include:

• Client history and treatment planning
• Preparation
• Assessment
• Desensitization
• Installation
• Body scan
• Closure
• Reevaluation

Nonetheless, if you do decide to use a self-administered EMDR, we highly advise consulting with a skilled professional to understand how to do EMDR at home and make sure there are minimal risks involved.

In case you do decide to try self-administered EMDR, we recommend only using it for “minor” distressing events that happened in the present. We say “minor” loosely, as the perceived severity of an event depends on the client’s perspective, but the nervous system dictates how major or minor it feels.

However, if you have a history of deeply disturbing, complex trauma – childhood trauma or a "Big T" trauma – do NOT administer EMDR by yourself at home.

Conclusion

So, can you do EMDR on yourself?

In conclusion, while EMDR is a powerful therapeutic technique, proven to be highly beneficial for altering how traumatic memories are stored within the brain and body, it should be followed through with the guidance of a trained professional.

In theory, self-administered EMDR is possible, but the risks associated are not worth cutting corners for. From intense reactions and retraumatization to worsening symptoms, performing this type of therapy by yourself could lead to numerous negative outcomes that can potentially cause more damage than good.

At NeuroTek, we bring you the new generation of EMDR therapy. After many years of growth and experience behind us, we are enthusiastically exploring new ways to advance EMDR to the next level and contribute to the success of the community!