I thought it might be a good idea to follow up my post on EMDR treating trauma with one discussing how it may be helpful to people who have experienced significant losses.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of therapy originally developed to help people recover from trauma. In recent years, research has shown that EMDR can also help people who are struggling with grief, especially when the grief is intense, long-lasting, or connected to a traumatic loss.

Here’s what the evidence says:

• EMDR helps reduce the pain of grief. Studies show that people who receive EMDR therapy for grief often feel less emotional pain, sadness, and distress after treatment. This is true for people who have lost loved ones in traumatic ways (like accidents or violence) and for those whose grief just won’t go away on its own

• It works as well as other leading therapies. Research comparing EMDR to other common treatments for grief, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or guided mourning, finds that EMDR is just as effective at reducing grief and trauma symptoms. In some studies, people who received EMDR improved faster than those using other methods

• EMDR can help with related problems, too. Grief often comes with other issues, like anxiety, depression, or trouble sleeping. EMDR has been shown to help with these symptoms as well, making it a good option for people whose grief feels overwhelming or complicated

• The effects can last. Follow-up studies show that the benefits of EMDR for grief can last for months after treatment ends

• It’s helpful for different types of loss. EMDR has been used successfully for people grieving after disasters, violent deaths, and even during the COVID-19 pandemic

• How does it work? EMDR helps people process painful memories and emotions related to their loss. The therapy uses guided eye movements or other forms of “bilateral stimulation” to help the brain reprocess these memories, making them less distressing and easier to live with

• People describe feeling lighter and more able to move forward. After EMDR, many people say their painful memories feel less sharp and upsetting. They often report being able to remember their loved one in a more peaceful way and find it easier to re-engage with life

• It’s safe and well-tolerated. Most people can complete EMDR therapy without problems, and it doesn’t require them to repeatedly talk about their loss in detail if they don’t want to

EMDR is a proven and effective therapy for people struggling with grief and loss, especially when the grief is complicated or traumatic. It works as well as other therapies, often with fewer sessions, and can help people feel less pain, less anxiety, and more able to move forward with their lives. I hope this information is helpful to anyone who reads it.