Tag:
Can EMDR Be Used With Other Therapies?
Short Answer: Yes. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can be used alongside other forms of therapy. Some people use EMDR as their main approach, while others combine it with talk therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), couples therapy, or other types of support. The approaches do not necessarily have to address the same issue or be used at the same time. If you use self-guided EMDR, you can also use it while participating in another type of therapy.
Key Takeaways
- EMDR does not necessarily have to be used by itself.
- People may use EMDR alongside talk therapy, CBT, ERP, couples therapy, or other approaches.
- Different therapies may focus on different concerns or different parts of the same concern.
- You do not need to assume that starting EMDR means stopping another therapy that is useful to you.
- Self-guided EMDR can also be used while someone is participating in another form of therapy.
- How you combine different approaches can depend on what you are working on and what you find useful.
Does EMDR Have to Be Used by Itself?
No.
EMDR is a distinct therapeutic approach, but that does not mean it has to be the only approach someone uses.
A person might use EMDR to work with a distressing memory while using another form of therapy to address different concerns.
For example, someone might use talk therapy to discuss current relationship problems while using EMDR to work with a particular past experience that continues to bother them.
Another person might already be using CBT and decide to add EMDR.
The therapies can have different purposes rather than competing with one another.
Why Might Someone Combine EMDR With Another Therapy?
Different therapies work in different ways.
EMDR uses a structured process that combines focused attention on a memory, thought, feeling, or other focus with bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, alternating sounds, or tapping.
Traditional talk therapy may place more emphasis on discussing experiences, relationships, emotions, or current problems.
CBT often focuses on identifying and changing patterns of thinking and behavior.
ERP is commonly used for obsessive-compulsive disorder and involves gradually facing triggers while reducing the usual compulsive response.
Because these approaches work differently, someone may find that more than one is useful.
EMDR and Talk Therapy
EMDR and talk therapy can be used alongside each other.
One important difference is that EMDR does not necessarily require you to describe a difficult memory in extensive detail.
During EMDR, you focus on the memory or another target while following the structured process.
For someone dealing with PTSD, talk therapy may offer space to discuss current challenges, while EMDR can focus more specifically on distressing memories or reactions connected to past experiences.
Talk therapy generally involves more conversation about what you are experiencing, thinking, or feeling.
Some people may find the two approaches useful for different reasons.
For example, they may want a place to talk through current events while using EMDR for specific memories or emotional reactions.
EMDR and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on connections among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
EMDR uses a different process, with focused attention and bilateral stimulation forming an important part of the approach.
Using one does not automatically rule out using the other.
Someone might use CBT strategies to work with current patterns of thought or behavior while also using EMDR for memories or experiences connected with those patterns.
The exact way the approaches are combined can vary from person to person.
Someone working on anxiety may use different therapeutic approaches for different parts of what they are experiencing.
EMDR and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is an approach commonly used for obsessive-compulsive disorder.
ERP and EMDR are different methods.
ERP generally involves gradually facing situations, thoughts, or triggers while reducing or resisting the compulsive response that would normally follow.
EMDR instead uses focused attention together with bilateral stimulation.
Someone using ERP may also be interested in EMDR for a separate distressing experience or memory.
Using both does not mean they have to be blended into a single exercise. They can remain separate approaches with different purposes.
EMDR and Couples or Family Therapy
Someone participating in couples or family therapy may also use EMDR.
The two approaches often have different focuses.
Couples or family therapy may concentrate on communication, relationships, recurring conflicts, or patterns between people.
EMDR may focus more specifically on a memory, belief, feeling, or past experience that continues to cause distress.
A person does not necessarily have to choose one instead of the other.
Do the Therapies Have to Address the Same Problem?
No.
Sometimes they might, but they do not have to.
You might use one approach for one issue and EMDR for another.
For example, someone could be working on:
- Communication problems in couples therapy
- Repetitive thoughts or behaviors with CBT or ERP
- A particular distressing memory with EMDR
There can be overlap, but there does not need to be.
What matters is that each approach has a useful purpose for the person using it.
Can You Use Self-Guided EMDR While Seeing a Therapist?
Yes.
Using a therapist for one type of support does not mean that every mental-health or personal-development activity you use has to happen within that therapy session.
Someone might attend talk therapy, couples therapy, CBT, or another type of therapy while also using a self-guided EMDR program independently.
If you want your therapist to know that you are using EMDR, you can tell them. You may also choose to discuss something that came up during an EMDR session if it seems relevant to the work you are doing together.
The important distinction is that using self-guided EMDR does not automatically mean you must stop another therapy or turn your EMDR sessions into therapist-led sessions.
Using Virtual EMDR Alongside Other Therapies
Virtual EMDR is a structured, self-guided online EMDR program.
Because it is self-guided, it can be used independently even if you are also participating in another form of therapy.
For example, you might have a scheduled therapy appointment once a week while choosing when you want to use Virtual EMDR on your own.
The two do not necessarily need to follow the same schedule or address the same subject.
If something from one approach feels relevant to the other, you can choose whether you want to make that connection.
Do You Need Several Therapies at Once?
No.
The fact that EMDR can be combined with other therapies does not mean that using several approaches is automatically better.
Some people may prefer focusing on one approach.
Others may already be using another therapy and want to add EMDR for a particular reason.
There is no need to collect therapies or assume that doing more at once will produce faster results.
The useful question is whether each approach is serving a purpose for you.
Can Different Therapies Ever Feel Repetitive?
They can.
Two therapies may sometimes address similar thoughts, emotions, memories, or situations.
If you find yourself repeatedly covering the same material in ways that do not feel useful, you may decide to change what you focus on.
You might use EMDR for one issue and another therapy for something else.
Or you might decide that you prefer concentrating on one approach for a while.
There is no requirement that every therapy you use must address every concern you have.
Conclusion
EMDR does not necessarily have to be used on its own.
People may use EMDR alongside talk therapy, CBT, ERP, couples therapy, family therapy, or other approaches. Sometimes the therapies address different concerns, and sometimes they approach different parts of the same concern.
You also do not need to assume that adding EMDR means giving up another therapy that you find useful.
With Virtual EMDR and other self-guided approaches, EMDR can be something you use independently while participating in another type of therapy. The approaches can remain separate, overlap where useful, and be adjusted according to what you want to work on.
View Comments