Bilateral what???

What is bilateral stimulation?

Bilateral stimulation simply means that we are using some form of back and forth movements. This is most commonly eye movements, where the therapist will either use their hand or a light bar and ask you to follow back and forth movements with your eyes while keeping your head still. Sometimes the eye movements aren't well tolerated by folks and that's okay! We have other methods that still prove to be effective. I will commonly use theratappers, where you will hold a small buzzer in each hand and then feel a gentle buzz alternate between hands. The benefit of this is that you can close your eyes, and for some people this allows for deeper processing. Other options are tapping movements- like tapping on alternate knees, or using a butterfly tap (arms crossed in a self-hug and using gentle hand taps on either your arms or your chest). Sound that alternates between the left and right ear is another option.

Um...okay. But why?

There's several reasons and theories. What we know is that the bilateral stimulation proves to soothe the nervous system and provide a calming effect. Bilateral stimulation on it's own can be very relaxing, helping to slow the heart rate and breathing rate. For this, you can even find "EMDR music" on any music platform or meditation app.

Secondly, think of our stage of sleep with REM (Rapid Eye Movement). In this stage we are actively processing through our experiences and dreaming. Bilateral stimulation turns on a physiological state that helps with information processing. Using this with a trained therapist helps to unlock stuck memories, process them in a more adaptive way, and help them get stored differently in the brain so they can be organized and put away.

The other thing that bilateral stimulation does is make your brain work a bit harder, we call this taxing the working memory. As you have to simultaneously attend to the present stimuli while bringing up traumatic memory, bilateral stimulation helps to effectively turn on the brain in a way that facilitates re-organizing memories into past events that are now over.

Think of a regular day where you go about your day, have experiences and conversations along the way, get home and talk about your day, or journal about your day, then go to sleep where your brain actively processes and sorts through the information of the day, deciding on what information needs to stick around and what can go. Now, when we have traumatic events, our brains and bodies are overwhelmed. We may not process this material in a helpful way, our brains cannot process this information in our sleep, and the memory gets stuck in our brains and bodies while fueling ongoing trauma responses. The bilateral stimulation by a trained therapist, as part of a well-rounded treatment plan, can be very helpful.

This sounds interesting, but also uncomfortable and weird

Yup, I get it. The brain is absolutely fascinating and this treatment may seem weird. As a trauma therapist, I myself have done my own processing work with a trained therapist and have benefitted greatly from this type of therapy. I assure you there is a lot of empirical evidence to support the use of Bilateral Stimulation as a part of trauma processing. Again, this must be done by a fully trained therapist who is following a treatment plan that includes a full assessment and thorough understanding of your concerns, pre-trauma processing preparation that is individualized to help you increase your coping and emotional regulation skills, a solid and trusting therapeutic relationship.

Wait a sec- is this hypnosis?

Nope. You are fully alert and aware during the whole process and you will remember everything. In fact, that's an important part of the treatment. We will talk about the window of tolerance as part of our preparation phase, and ensure that you are staying grounded and present throughout the process. You can ask questions or pause at any time.

Is this only for trauma?

While initially developed as a trauma treatment and utilized with military veterans, both therapeutic modalities of EMDR and ART have been now widely used to address many other concerns. I have found it very helpful for treating depression, anxiety, and grief and loss among many other concerns.

What's the difference between EMDR (Eye Movement and Desensitization Reprocessing) and ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy)? Which one is better?

As a therapist trained in both EMDR and ART I know this is a controversial question and there will be many differing opinions. Following is my opinion only. I believe, from my experience, that ART is a highly effective treatment for single-event trauma (such as a car accident). When treating a one-time event, ART can lead to significant reduction in distress in just one session. ART is a highly scripted treatment, meaning the therapist follows a series of prompts and suggestions to directly aid in the processing of a memory. ART uses voluntary image replacement as an important part of the process, helping you to re-do the event in a more pleasant way or supported way. The goal is to help you to lose the pain and distress while keeping the facts of the event.

When processing ongoing trauma, childhood trauma, C-PTSD (complex trauma), or other difficulties such as depression, EMDR is my go-to. EMDR follows a proven path without a set script, making it more flexible and allowing for more space for the brain to draw it's own connections and healing potential. By identifying and mapping out the history of your negative core beliefs, EMDR activates this pain pathway, allowing for comprehensive processing, healing and forming new more positive and helpful core beliefs that can support you fully in your future.

In short, depending on your personal concerns, history, and therapy goals, we can decide on which treatment modality utilizing bilateral stimulation would be most helpful for you.

Reach out for a free consult if you are curious to know which treatment is right for you!

Connect. Heal. Thrive.

403-390-1061

© 2024. All rights reserved.

Calgary, Alberta

Contact