EMDR vs Neurofeedback; which therapy holds the key to unlocking your inner healing potential? Our main agenda for today is to help you pick one in the battle of EMDR vs Neurofeedback. Yes, the same video game-like therapy you’ve been hearing about for so long.

Many therapists have been recommending the combined use of EMDR and Neurofeedback to achieve maximum results. And so if EMDR was enough, why bother spending your hard-earned money twice? I’ve seen this question circulating a lot on the internet, so I thought I’ll clear it for you once and for all. EMDR vs Neurofeedback, worth the hype or not? Let’s find out.

Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing

A technique used to treat PTSD and many other forms of mental health distress, EMDR standsfor Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a comprehensive form of psychotherapy that helps you recover from your past traumas and negative life experiences. If you think your childhood was saddening and even though you really like your therapist, you haven’t really seen much progress, this therapy is for you!

EMDR has been widely used in a variety of populations like to treat PTSD in veterans from Iraq wars, Afghanistan war, Vietnam var, and even World War II since initial efficacy study in 1989. I’ve read the testimonials of a handful of patients who were not seeing good results despite doing everything in their power. But then came along EMDR and those same patients healed completely in 8-12 sessions.

But don’t just take my word for it. Dr. Justin Havens, an EMDR consultant, says that EMDR has such dramatic results that patients can go from constantly being reminded of negative feelings to feeling like it’s all in the past now. He further adds that EMDR is a good way for you if you’re looking to kickstart your healing journey because you have your therapist by your side at each step.

Hear It From The Prince Himself

EMDR basically works by moving your eyes in a certain way while you process your past traumas. And there’s something about this kind of therapy that The Royal was convinced of its benefits. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, has undergone EMDR, and do you know what he has to say about it? He says it is the kind of therapy he always wanted to try and that EMDR has helped him feel calmer than ever.

What Prince further had to say about EMDR was that it helped him find new strength in him, and that’s why I think he probably decided to come out about him being in therapy. His openness created a positive ripple effect, making it easier for more and more people to seek the support they need. Especially considering the concerning statistic that one in every 6 young people is going through a depressive episode. The tapping you can see in the picture below is a part of the process.

Neurofeedback

Now, let’s talk about neurofeedback, shall we? Neurofeedback therapy is a type of biofeedback therapy that focuses on teaching the subjects self-control of brain function. This isn’t a new therapy; in fact, the use of neurofeedback goes back to the 1950s when it was used by NASA to train astronauts (they still do so, though).

This kind of therapy is used to improve brain functioning and is done by focusing on the neuronal activity of the brain. Neurofeedback utilizes the power of real-time feedback to train your mind, but like every training, it takes time (almost 5-10 sessions for many to observe small changes). It is supposed to be an aid for patients with ADD, ADHD, autism, insomnia, etc.

Are There Possible Side Effects To Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is a therapy designed not only to change how you think and feel but also to train your brain to develop healthier patterns of activity and ultimately to function better. And I personally think it’s insanely genius if you can train your brain in a way that it looks for rewards and avoids things that lead to punishments.

But the point is, is neurofeedback really effective? Well, the results of neurofeedback are still a debatable topic. Even if I neglect the low positive results for neurofeedback, how do I ignore the downside that neurofeedback can disturb your normal brain waves? Yes, neurofeedback can stimulate the frequencies of beta or gamma waves which in turn might stimulate your panic, anxiety, or racing thoughts.

EMDR vs Neurofeedback | Pros And Cons

Let’s weigh some pros and cons of EMDR vs neurofeedback so that you can make a better pick for yourself. Starting with EMDR, here we go:

Pros Of EMDR:

• Highly effective
• Rapid results
• Non-invasive
• Addresses underlying issues
• Individualized
• Low risk of harm
• No medication required
• No preparation required
• Endorsed by world-wide health authorities
• 30+ years of research

Cons Of EMDR:

• Intensity of progressing
  

Pros Of Neurofeedback:

• Potentially effective
• Safe to use
• Lower intensity
• No medication dependency

Cons Of Neurofeedback:

• Limited research
• Costly
• Time-intensive
• Variable results
• Not a cure-all

EMDR vs Neurofeedback. Given the pros and cons of each, whose side do you think weighs more? Some researchers argue that the limited results neurofeedback is giving can partly be due to a placebo effect instead of actual changes in brain functioning, which makes the effectiveness of this treatment further questionable.

EMDR vs Neurofeedback – What’s The Final Verdict?

So, who wins the EMDR vs Neurofeedback debate? I’ll be summarizing today’s discussion on the basis of the following comparison chart. Have a look!

All in all, EMDR vs neurofeedback both hold their own benefits in the treatment of disorders like ADHD and PTSD. So, do I recommend combined use of Neurofeedback and EMDR? Yes, you can, for improved results.

It is true that there are people who have benefited from this “game from the future” kind of therapy but the lack of scientific evidence and the wide range of side effects seen make me question this. Is it worth taking the risk? Besides, when you have a therapy like EMDR that has even brought 100% success rates in studies, why would you look for an alternative?

Since the late 18th century, people have been using hypnosis ever since it was developed by Franz Mesmer, a German physician. For almost 2 centuries, this well-guided process has served people, but time changes, and so should the treatment methods, don’t you think so? EMDR is a fairly new technique, but with its rising popularity (all thanks to its effectiveness), I take it upon myself to make more and more people aware. But before you and I jump to any conclusion, I thought I’d create an in-depth EMDR vs Hypnosis comparison so that you know what will fit best for you. Shall we begin the competition: EMDR vs Hypnosis?

What Is EMDR And How It’s Different From Hypnosis?

EMDR, the full form of which is Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, is a kind of psychotherapy being used widely for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD usually occurs when a person undergoes severe traumatic experiences like rape, sexual assault, or even military combats, road accidents, etc. It was back in 1987 when Dr. Francine Shapiro created EMDR therapy for the first time to treat PTSD.

Hypnosis, on the other hand, I would say, is a condition of increased relaxation that induces a trance or a dream-like state. Also known as hypnotherapy, it is a technique used to treat psychological or emotional disorders. For years, psychologists have been using hypnosis, and it does help you experience changes in sensation, so yeah, your favorite actor could have been hypnotized in that movie you watched twice. But is hypnosis relevant anymore?

EMDR vs Hypnosis | How Do These Work?

Phases Of EMDR

When performing EMDR, I’ll go through 8 phases of healing with you. Let’s discuss a bit about each.

Phase 1: History

First, I’ll ask you queries about your life, how you went through what you went through, your relationship with your family, signs of trauma, and so on.

Phase 2: Preparation

Before you face any traumatic symptoms again, you’re introduced to this step, where you’re prepared to manage your distress before it knocks at your doorstep.

Phase 3: Assessment

This is a critical step where you’re asked to think about your target memories (these are the memories where your trauma actually resides) and related emotions or sensations.

Phase 4: Desensitization

One of the most critical parts of the entire process, where we’ll put efforts to desensitize the bad memory. It’s a natural thing to experience some extra distress when going through the process of healing. It’s inevitable but so worth it. Don’t you want to feel that “it’s gone” feeling?

Phase 5: Installation

Now it’s time to install a positive belief as an oil in the machinery of your brain to keep the parts moving smoothly. Choose a positive belief that you’ll like to reinforce in yourself instead of the desensitized traumatic memory.

Phase 6: Body Scan

In this phase, we’ll scan all of you from head to toe to detect any lingering distress or tension that could have survived the sessions.

Phase 7: Closure

Here comes the final phase of your treatment, where your therapist will ensure that you put an end to your painful past and focus on a brighter future.

Phase 8: Re-evaluation

This is an additional phase i.e. the time after completeion of your EMDR or the follow-up care time. In this step, the therapist will evaluate your progress from the previous session to see if any residual stress was activated, or if the target is now completed.

Of course, the actual process is so much more detailed than this but for now, I think you get the idea of where we are headed to. Studies have shown that this is so effective that 90% of single-trauma patients overcame their PTSD after only 3 90 minutes long sessions.

Progression Of Hypnosis

Now, I’m going to tell you a bit about how hypnosis works. Hypnosis creates a non-judgemental immersive experience, and here’s how this experience progresses.

1. First, your certified hypnotherapist will screen you using a suggestibility scale to see if you’re eligible to be hypnotized. (Yes, not everyone is eligible to undergo hypnosis, and we all need to understand this).
2. Next, the hypnotherapist will talk you into telling him what kind of environment makes you feel safe.
3. Your therapist will then create an imaginative environment using your described information. Say, for example, you told your therapist that you like being alone in a hut near the river. Your hypnotherapist will let you dive deep into your imagination by telling you how the birds are humming, the water is flowing, and the air is spreading through your hair, etc.

The result? A combination of dissociation and immersion or the so-called hypnotic state. This technique helps patients detach from the trauma for a while but what after that? What happens when the delusion fades? Seeing as how EMDR eliminates the root cause of your distress, while hypnosis just lets you spend a few hours in your self-made perception, which one do you think wins this part of EMDR vs Hypnosis?

Who Should Undergo EMDR, And Who Should Go For Hypnosis?

Both hypnosis and EMDR are therapeutic approaches being used widely for PTSD. But is hypnosis a better approach for PTSD? I believe otherwise. Both these methods should be used to address different situations and here’s what I think.

EMDR for you if you have:

• Trauma-related symptoms
• Distressing memories
• Anxiety disorders
• Performance anxiety
• Pain management
• Habit change
• Stress reduction
• Phobias and fears
• Remove creative blocks of expression

Hypnosis for:

• Stress reduction
• Creative exploration
• Phobias and fears

A meta-analysis conducted confirmed that EMDR helped significantly with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. So, if what you really want is your PTSD monster to stop following you, EMDR would be a better choice for you. Why? Because hypnosis is just a pretty-faced mask, and when that mask tears off, the real monster is still there. Let’s see EMDR vs Hypnosis comparison chart:

Are There Any Potential Risks To Undergoing EMDR And Hypnosis?

Even though EMDR and hypnosis are tried and tested by thousands and proven clinically safe, there are still some possible risks that I’d like to share beforehand. Hear me out before you jump to any conclusion!

Hypnosis can:

• Create false memories
• Trigger feelings of depersonalization
• Evoke strong emotions
• Be ineffective because the patient might not respond
• Not for people with mental health conditions like schizophrenia

On the contrary, EMDR can also cause emotional distress and evoke strong emotions at first, but as I explained earlier, it is necessary for you to be able to get rid of this unwanted burden. You can’t overcome your fears if you’re not ready to face them, can you?

Take Home Message

At the end of the day, I would say that both EMDR and hypnosis have some edge over the other. When choosing which therapeutic method works for you, you need to weigh your options for their pros and cons. Is the at-first stress of EMDR too much for you to handle or do you find it more convenient to keep facing the pain again and again in the form of recurring sessions?

77% of patients in a study got free from PTSD in just 12 sessions of EMDR; this could be you. Suit yourself, but don’t forget to work on yourself either way! Who do you think won the EMDR vs Hypnosis challenge for you? Let us know.