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Original poster

Is this EMDR or have I thrown money away?

54 replies

JamDoorNut · 14/01/2023 13:03

I have been struggling with anxiety and claustrophobia for a while now. The NHS IAPT therapy was pretty useless however I have worked hard to manage my anxiety which I have pretty much managed to keep under control - without medication. But my claustrophobia is proving to be difficult to shift- I struggle to get into lifts, trains that are inside tunnels and flights. This is becoming a issue now and I thought of trying hypnotherapy.
i got in touch with a therapist who is certified and is registered and booked 4 sessions. She has sessions that start as a group if 4, then 8 and also an option for 16 I believe.

the fist session was to understand the issues etc, she made a lot of notes. The second session pretty much talking about the various issues that might have lead to my phobia and we practiced breathing exercise.

Third session she did an exercise whereby she asked me to get in touch with my trauma self and talk to it. We did this and when I said there was resistance from my trauma self to ‘let go’ she didn’t really offer any alternatives- the session ended there.

when I got home I tried it again myself over the Christmas break to talk to my trauma self and address certain fears etc. I now feel I’m not need to run away from this ‘fear’ more if that I can explore what is causing me the anxiety- if that makes sense!!

the fourth and last session was yesterday and we went right back to note taking and finding about how I feel- more like talking therapy.

from everything I have read on Google this is not EMDR - she said in passing that if you are happy I can make you practice hypnotherapy in another session.

she then asked what my views are in the future sessions- which in other words another block booking in £518. I didn’t want to commit to ongoing therapy with her- this was meant to be 4 sessions and see how I progress. Given that no EMDR was offered I don’t think I want to book sessions with her again.

my question I suppose is that am I correct in thinking there was very little EMDR therapy involved in here?

OP posts:
JadeTC · 14/01/2023 13:14

It's a little unclear from your post whether you thought you'd signed up to hypnotherapy or EMDR? You mentioned wanting to try hypnotherapy and the description of the sessions doesn't sound like EMDR, sorry.
Is she on this register? emdrassociation.org.uk/find-a-therapist/a-z-therapist-listing/

StripeysMum · 14/01/2023 13:22

That's not EMDR. EMDR would involve a one to one session where at some point you'd be watching a repeated movement made by the therapist. Your eyes move but your head remains still.

bumpertobumper · 14/01/2023 13:27

Hypnotherapy and emdr are different things.
What you describe does not sound like hypnotherapy and isn't emdr

If you want emdr, which can be very effective for many people, find a bacp or UKCP accredited therapist who has training and experience in emdr. They will explain what it entails and what you can expect before you start, if you decide to do so.

WhoAteAllTheDinosaurs · 14/01/2023 13:31

EMDR is not hypnotherapy.
If you want EMDR you need to go and see an accredited counsellor/psychotherapist with additional, recognised training in EMDR.

bumpertobumper · 14/01/2023 13:32

As to the question whether you have thrown money away. Did it help you? Is sounds like you got some strategies to help you from the process, if so then no.
I'm f it didn't help, then yes 💸 BUT bear in mind that there are many therapy methodologies and what works for one person doesn't for another. If it helped you a bit, but not enough, it's not really a waste of money, but part of your investment in recovery and finding the path that works for you, and what doesn't.
Which aspects of the thing you did were most useful? Use that to steer what you look for as the next step...

EeeByeGummieBear · 14/01/2023 13:34

As PP have said EMDR and hypnotherapy are not the same thing.
I'm sorry to hear IAPT was not helpful. They should be offering you CBT (with a High Intensity Therapist) or EMDR (with someone appropriately trained) for your claustrophobic. You really shouldn't have to pay for therapy.
Hypnotherapy doesn't have an evidence base for being effective with claustrophobia, which is one of the reasons it's not offered on the NHS

Original poster
JamDoorNut · 14/01/2023 15:05

Apologies if my op was confusing- to clarify, when I initially got in touch with her i requested Hypnotherapy - which was what I was looking out for. She mentioned during the conversation that many think
if Hypnotherapy as a magic bullet when it’s not that- it might work it might not. She then mentioned that a combination of EMDR and hypnotherapy might serve me better- hence the focus on EMDR. She only mentioned hypnotherapy in the last session in passing in almost a way to make me book additional sessions.

OP posts:
Original poster
JamDoorNut · 14/01/2023 15:08

@EeeByeGummieBear i pushed for CBT when I booked for IAPT via the NHS. However the therapist was awful and was reading a script as supposed to actually listening- i agree I shouldn’t be paying for private sessions when I am contributing to NHS via taxes however the NHS awful when it comes to preventative methods-I get pushed to take medications as supposed to exploring other measures

OP posts:
VashtaNarada · 14/01/2023 15:10

Nothing about the therapy you've done sounds like either hypnotherapy OR EMDR. You sound fantastically motivated, so I suggest finding a therapist who can work with you to your satisfaction. There is no such thing as a quick fix in mental health though, so it may take longer than you expect.

Blanketenvy · 14/01/2023 15:12

Definitely doesn't sound like EMDR but as other people have said check if the therapist is registered. Initial sessions would usually include history taking, along with resourcing which is often things like a lot of grounding work, identifying thoughts prior to targeting specific memories/fears.
Most IAPT services now offer EMDR for PTSD. It sounds like you have had a bad experience, but most are not like that.

Original poster
JamDoorNut · 14/01/2023 15:32

@VashtaNarada thank you- anxiety and claustrophobia has had a grip
on me longer than I would have liked.I have done the usual - IAPT, speak to gp who just kept prescribing Setraline and Propranolol- wasn’t interested beyond that. Over the last few years I have tried my best mostly based on my own low level research and best most of the anxiety -

im now trying to work on my claustrophobia- I understand it’s not going to be quick and willing to give it the time and effort required. However this particular lady didn’t seem to have helped me with it…

OP posts:
picklemewalnuts · 14/01/2023 15:41

It does sound like trauma therapy. I had therapy which was more like preparation for emdr than emdr. It sounded a bit like what you have described. Quite direct, but not actual emdr.

The relaxation exercises she did with you may well have been the early stages of hypnotherapy.

It sounds helpful, for all it wasn't emdr!

Charlieiscool · 14/01/2023 15:50

If it isn’t helping then move on. Lots of therapists are not that good and maybe she hasn’t done the full EMDR training. Trauma therapy requires a high level of skill or she’s be re-traumatising you without helping you get better. Find a qualified and experienced EMDR therapist.

Original poster
JamDoorNut · 14/01/2023 15:53

That’s it @picklemewalnuts - I think that’s the closest to what was happening- she was prepping but was not upfront about it. Thank you!! I think you have put my questions to rest…

OP posts:
Original poster
JamDoorNut · 14/01/2023 15:53

I think I’ll carry on w
orking in what I was already doing and look for a another therapist

OP posts:
Eyesopenwideawake · 14/01/2023 15:56

I agree with PP, it wasn't hypnotherapy or EMDR. In traditional hypnotherapy you would have been put into a trance so that she could 'talk' to the part of your subconscious that creates the fear response to enclosed spaces and asking (telling!) it to stop. It should really take no more than 2/3 sessions.

Onnabugeisha · 14/01/2023 16:05

I think you were just doing initial sessions towards preparing for either hypnotherapy or EMDR. I have had EMDR but it was after twenty sessions of trauma therapy. The EMDR was then a further six sessions just on one traumatic incident. It sounds like your claustrophobia isn’t an easy fix, so not sure it’s reasonable to expect to be done and dusted after four 1hr sessions.

If you like the therapist and have a trust bond with her, I’d think about continuing. A new therapist will have to cover the same ground this one has anyway.

Original poster
JamDoorNut · 14/01/2023 16:10

Thank you @Onnabugeisha - I was not expecting a quick fix. As mentioned I’ve been struggling with this for a number of years so realistic in my expectation that it will require time and effort to come out/manage. But I wish she was upfront about what the treatment plan was- that’s the problem I’m having in continuing with her.had she told minimum 4 session for prep, 4 sessions for therapy, then may be additional sessions depending on need/success I would planned it in such a way..this seems not a professional way to conduct business/therapy.

OP posts:
Gymnopedie · 14/01/2023 16:17

The relaxation exercises she did with you may well have been the early stages of hypnotherapy.

Relaxation training is part of the prep for EMDR. During bilateral stimulation the client is being asked to focus very deeply on the traumatic experience and may become agitated. The relaxation techniques are to help the client ground themselves if the recollection is too distressing.

Onnabugeisha · 14/01/2023 16:21

JamDoorNut · 14/01/2023 16:10

Thank you @Onnabugeisha - I was not expecting a quick fix. As mentioned I’ve been struggling with this for a number of years so realistic in my expectation that it will require time and effort to come out/manage. But I wish she was upfront about what the treatment plan was- that’s the problem I’m having in continuing with her.had she told minimum 4 session for prep, 4 sessions for therapy, then may be additional sessions depending on need/success I would planned it in such a way..this seems not a professional way to conduct business/therapy.

I agree she should have been more forthcoming. I think at this point you should definitely ask how many sessions it would take. I know with my therapist we did a few sessions for her to get to know me and sort of assses where I was and what I needed. Then she drew up a treatment plan that said how many sessions, what we’d do, and so on so I had a road map. You could ask for a treatment plan from her now before deciding to continue or not.

Raspberry290 · 14/01/2023 16:25

No that’s not EMDR. EMDR is a one to one therapy which involves a therapist performing rapid eye movement

Onnabugeisha · 14/01/2023 16:27

Gymnopedie · 14/01/2023 16:17

The relaxation exercises she did with you may well have been the early stages of hypnotherapy.

Relaxation training is part of the prep for EMDR. During bilateral stimulation the client is being asked to focus very deeply on the traumatic experience and may become agitated. The relaxation techniques are to help the client ground themselves if the recollection is too distressing.

Yes, I’m glad you posted this as that is exactly what my therapist had me do. Her technique was to focus on a good memory where I felt safe and happy. Homework after an intial session was to draw a picture of myself in the memory. The memory I chose was this one tide pool place I went with my brother to. It had crystal clear turquoise sea water and it was surrounded by cliffs and fed by a sea tunnel. So was a hidden lagoon type place. I floated in the warm water and felt the sun and heard the cliff birds. It was very peaceful.

We then practiced me going to that “safe space” after talking through some of the trauma to relax me and get my emotions all in check. When we did the EMDR, after each session was a phase of closing my eyes and going back to that good memory, imagining myself there and relaxing into the feelings I had then.

VanGoghsDog · 14/01/2023 17:16

Seems slightly odd that she advertises hypnotherapy and then tells you it might not work and suggests something else.

I mean, obviously it might not work, nothing is 100% guaranteed. But it seems an odd business model. Equally EMDR "might not work".

Also, the fee looks high to me. General therapy where I live is £50 a session, though I've paid up to £70. EMDR is more like £75-80, but maybe up to £100. Over £500 for four sessions feels on the high side.

There's something a bit odd about the whole thing.

Original poster
JamDoorNut · 14/01/2023 18:27

@VanGoghsDog what do you mean by odd? As for the prices I live in the Home Counties (20 mins from central London) and almost all therapy session are between £90-£125 per hour. Agree she is on the higher end.

OP posts:
Grimblygrumbly · 14/01/2023 19:08

Out of interest, how many sessions of CBT did you have with IAPT, as it sounds like you may have had step 2 work with a well-being practitioner rather than step 3 work with a qualified therapist?

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