Is Mindfulness One of the Secret Ingredients in EMDR?

Mindfulness is being able to observe and describe the present moment and experience

Understanding EMDR Therapy

EMDR is a well-known therapy that invites clients to bring up painful memories and notice all that comes up while also doing eye movements (or another dual attention activity) at the same time.

After each 30-60 second set of eye movements or tapping, we ask the client to take a breath, and then ask them, "What are you noticing?" Without adding extra interpretations, we will say "Notice that" or "Go with that."

The EMDR Experience: What Clients Often Wonder

At first, this process is disorienting to clients—they are often wondering: What am I supposed to be saying? What am I supposed to be thinking about or feeling or doing? Should I try and control my thoughts? Should I filter what comes up?

Admittedly, it is an experience that can be markedly different from a usual talk therapy session. With little interpretation or discussion, we just notice the flow of what the client notices, whether it be body sensations, emotions, memories, or thoughts—nothing is discarded, nor do we hold onto things.

When EMDR Processing Becomes Overwhelming

Sometimes this process can be overwhelming for people if they find themselves outside of the window of tolerance (emotionally dysregulated). Then we have strategies to help someone through this by either going back to the memory, choosing a less intense memory (for complex trauma), making the memory more distant (distancing techniques), or asking another question—as a few but not all of the ways we work in EMDR when processing is blocked or the intensity is too much.

A Case Study: When EMDR Doesn't Work Without Mindfulness

I had a client recently come to me after doing EMDR and said he was bored the whole time and got nothing out of it and just said what he thought the previous therapist wanted to hear so the session would be over. At the same time, this client shared that they experience emotions intensely and are very reactive, and also have a very severe history of abuse as a child.

The client was not able to be mindful of their current emotional experience, and so they may have dissociated or disconnected from the experience. When I heard this, I knew that it was important to work with this client on teaching the DBT mindfulness approach prior to doing EMDR so they could enter into EMDR processing and heal from trauma in their past in a way that worked for his complex trauma.

The Difference Between EMDR and DBT Mindfulness

Whereas EMDR uses mindfulness as one component of the emotional processing, DBT teaches a lens of mindfulness. It was important to teach this client (and their nervous system) that they can safely observe what is happening inside of them without pushing it away or shutting down.

DBT teaches a foundation of mindful practice in daily life. This means taking daily activities, such as drinking coffee and tea (most adults drink either one daily from all cultures and walks of life!) and doing it slowly while observing and describing. I then teach the DBT STOP skill to help with intense emotions. These two simple exercises pave the way for daily mindfulness, and with this increased freedom to feel emotions, even those that previously you would push away or avoid.

Connecting to Your Wise Mind Through Mindfulness

Mindfulness is not just a tool, but a step into intuitive knowing and connecting with your wise mind. For this client, and many of my clients, they operate in extremes—either extremely analytical or extremely emotional, without a bridge connecting the two.

The wise mind is that bridge that starts to connect the wisdom of both the emotional and reasonable mind. Not only that, it goes further than that and taps into intuitive, spiritual knowing.

Mindfulness allows you to tap into a gut feeling. In DBT, the wise mind—intuition—trumps, is above both emotion and rational mind in the decision-making process. Sometimes we know in our heart and gut that a job is not a good fit, despite making the highest wages you have ever made. Listening to the wise mind allows you to follow that instinct and open the doors for risk in your life and trust in the process.

Building a Foundation for Trauma Processing

This isn't easy for those who have suffered trauma and find themselves exiled and disconnected from their wise mind—overwhelmed by the intense emotions of trauma. In EMDR, with a solid base of mindfulness, you can be with, instead of being overcome by, your trauma. Daily mindfulness practice can extend this trust in ourselves and knowing what we want and need as we become more aware of our own feelings and thoughts.

When we can be mindful of our emotions in our everyday lives, this gives the green light to our nervous system to be able to process our past trauma so that you can move forward into a life that is not marked by danger signals and hazardous cliffs and instead has traffic lights you can notice and heed that fit the situation. When your trauma is processed with EMDR, you can chart new courses for your future that include hopefulness and belief in yourself!

Start Your EMDR and Mindfulness Journey in Vancouver

Are you ready to experience the powerful combination of EMDR therapy and mindfulness-based techniques? At Emotion Wise Counselling, our experienced therapists in Vancouver, BC understand that successful trauma processing often requires building a strong foundation of mindfulness skills first.

Why Choose Emotion Wise Counselling?

We specialize in:

• EMDR Therapy for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and distressing memories

• DBT Skills Group Training including mindfulness practices tailored to your needs

• Integrated Approach that combines the best of both modalities

• Trauma-Informed Care that respects your window of tolerance

  
  

Serving Vancouver and Surrounding Areas

Whether you're located in downtown Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, or anywhere in the Lower Mainland, we offer both in-person sessions at our Vancouver office and secure online therapy options throughout British Columbia.

Getting Started is Easy

Phone: Contact us at 236-412-2539 to schedule your free 15-minute consultation

Website: www.emotionwise.ca/contact and fill out our intake form

Email: Reach out with any questions about EMDR, DBT, or mindfulness therapy

Our therapists will work with you to determine whether you're ready to begin EMDR processing or if building mindfulness skills through DBT would provide the strongest foundation for your healing journey. Everyone's path is different, and we're here to meet you where you are.

Take the first step toward processing your trauma and reconnecting with your wise mind. Contact Emotion Wise Counselling in Vancouver today!