What is EMDR 2.0?
How EMDR 2.0 differs from EMDR
Cherisse Klassen
9/19/20262 min read
If you’ve heard of EMDR, you may already know that it is a trauma therapy that helps the brain process experiences that still feel emotionally or physically “stuck.” But you may not have heard of EMDR 2.0, an enhanced approach to EMDR developed by psychologists Dr. Ad de Jongh and Dr. Suzy Matthijssen.
So, what is different about EMDR 2.0?
Traditional EMDR generally involves bringing a distressing memory to mind while using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, sounds, or tapping. You then allow your mind to notice what comes up as the memory becomes less distressing and more distant. EMDR 2.0 builds on this process by using different forms and speeds of bilateral stimulation, attention, and working-memory tasks. These tasks, often more efficiently, can make memories less vivid and emotionally intense, and can also facilitate processing to move forward when someone feels stuck. Importantly, this doesn’t mean that EMDR 2.0 is simply “more intense” EMDR, quite the opposite, actually. The therapist chooses techniques based on what you need in the moment, as in, if you need more distraction from a hard memory, more tasks may be introduced. This can help move the trauma through more efficiently, often in a more enjoyable, engaging manner. If needed, processing can also be more gentle and gradual, for example, if the individual has a negative self-belief that is tied to several different memories. It is always based on what the individual needs at that moment.
More than just processing memories
One of the interesting things about EMDR 2.0 is that it gives therapists additional ways to work with different kinds of experiences.
For example, processing might focus on:
a distressing memory from the past
something that keeps triggering you in the present
a feared situation that hasn’t happened yet
panic or anxiety
a disturbing image or nightmare
a strong body sensation
chronic pain stemming from trauma
something you know logically is over, but your nervous system hasn’t quite caught up with yet
EMDR 2.0 can also be useful when talking about the details of an experience feels uncomfortable or unnecessary. You don’t always need to tell your therapist the entire story for your brain to begin processing it.
Should I choose EMDR or EMDR 2.0?
There isn’t one “right” version of EMDR. A therapist trained in both can draw from either traditional EMDR and EMDR 2.0 depending on your history, goals, and what seems most helpful for you. The goal is the same: to help your brain process experiences so they feel more like memories of the past, rather than something your body and mind are still having to respond to in the present. EMDR 2.0 simply gives us some additional tools for helping that process happen.