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NEURO-Auricular Methods for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing EMDR

NEURO-Auricular Methods for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing EMDR

by | Nov 4, 2021 | EMDR Therapy

This blog is for those interested in eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, who wish to use cutting edge methods to relax their bodies. Auricular techniques activate the same mechanisms, which help with associative memory recall, through EMDR and restoration of dual attention, bypassing any requirement for cognitive involvement (e.g., prefrontal cortex).

The most valuable tool required for this technique, and one that every client has easy access to, is their ears.

The client’s brain maps their somatic and emotional experiences onto the ear.

EMDR practitioners can read the client’s ear and gain access to their somatic and emotional experiences.

Auricular therapy gives the therapist a ‘window into the brain’

Auricular therapy gives the therapist a ‘window into the brain’ and provides a dynamic and up to date neurological map of specific brain areas including the client’s sensory body experiences, the somatic unconscious, somatic memory networks and associated emotions.

Auriculotherapy creates a therapeutic alliance with the client. It has powerful effects on brain function, which facilitates retrieval of information normally inaccessible by other means.

Neuro Aruicular Treatment

Facilitating access to emotions: the neural signature of EMDR stimulation 
Clinical evidence theorises that EMDR stimulation triggers the brain to produce an electrical signal. The observed mechanism is not fully understood, but it is hypothesised to be related to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep inconsistency.

This neural signature of EMDR stimulation was observed in both healthy and clinical populations.

Positive outcomes for auricular based PTSD treatment

Successful studies show that auricular acupressure treatment can reduce symptoms of mental disorders, particularly anxiety disorders. Mental health implications auricular acupressure treatment for This includes generalised anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
and social phobias.

Auricular acupressure treatment has also proved beneficial in the management of conditions like insomnia and depression. Auricular therapy for anxiety disorders includes the use of auricular acupressure treatment with an ear candle, single needle acupoint injection, auriculotherapy with ear drops, auriculotherapy with electrotherapy, or auricular acupuncture.

The use of auricular therapy to treat anxiety disorders
Treating mental disorders, such as anxiety, with auricular therapy is very safe with no known side effects or contraindications. Since auricular therapy does not require any medications, this form of treatment is a great alternative treatment compared to medications or treatments that involve surgery.

Auriculotherapy can be practiced by trained therapists and auriculotherapists without the requirement of advanced medical licensing. Auriculotherapists and auricular acupuncturists can practice auricular therapy in states that do not require licensure to practice auriculotherapy.

Auricular therapy is a non-invasive treatment for anxiety disorders
Since auricular therapy is a non-invasive, well-tolerated treatment for anxiety disorders, the technique is an effective solution compared to conventional medical treatments such as chemical medications. This treatment is beneficial in providing symptom relief, without the side effects associated with benzodiazepines or other medications. Auricular Therapy is also a non-invasive and cost-effective treatment compared to other non-talk therapy-based interventions such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
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Improve EMDR treatment with your ear

The ear is a microsystem scientifically validated for assessment and treatment via neuroauricular modulation [13-15], by acupressure, acupuncture, electro-stimulation, laser, and transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation or tVNS [12-15].

Over 30,000 medical doctors worldwide use neuro auricular modulation, and that number is fast growing. Auriculotherapy, also known as ear acupuncture, is a common treatment in Germany, where it is part of the national health care system.
This technique of somatic therapy emphasises the importance of re-establishing energetic flow/regulation/dual attention when blocked.

Auricular treatments are drawn from auricular medicine, a medicine developed in France by the physician Paul Nogier and advanced in Europe by the research of Dr Frank Bahr, MD, and colleagues.

Effectiveness of neuromodulation techniques
The effectiveness of neuromodulation techniques performed through the outer ear have been scientifically proven. This is because of the capacity to identify therapeutic specificity of auricular points, as linked to the somatotopic representation of the body and its ailments, as well as the ability to stimulate these points to influence specific aspects of the central nervous system.

From a health care professional’s perspective
The use of ear-based auricular stimulation in mental health services, including the US Department of Veterans Affairs, for the treatment of pain, addiction, and trauma, is most evident in the validation of neuromodulation via the ear through therapeutic electrical transduction devices. These special applications are particularly relevant to psychology because scientists recognise that everything is energy. The use of ear-based auricular treatment provides direct feedback on what is keeping traumatic stress-related symptoms stuck.

Using auricular acupuncture treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder
PTSD symptoms can impact a person’s life in a dramatic way. A research study found that acupuncture can help treat PTSD. Auricula acupuncture, combined with usual treatment methods, was found to reduce PTSD symptoms. The use of auricular acupuncture in conjunction with eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing treatment can also be an effective way to decrease PTSD symptoms and improve general psychological status.

Acupuncture for PTSD
There are a multitude of auricular acupuncture points that specifically focus on different areas of the brain. For instance, there is a point located at the base of the ear, where the ear lobe attaches to the side of the head that is labelled the limbic point.

Improving mental health
There are techniques that therapists can use in the treatment of mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Auricular acupuncture, also known as Auriculotherapy stimulates specific points on the ear that help relieve symptoms associated with each mental disorder. Auriculotherapy is a safe, drug-free, and painless form of treatment with no side effects. Auriculotherapy provides the most dependable, clinically effective methods for treating various mental health disorders.​

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing EMDR Geelong West

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing is a one-of-a-kind therapy that is particularly successful in the treatment of trauma. It can, however, help with other mental health problems including:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD)
  • Substance abuse and addictions
  • Confidence concerns
  • Somatic and psychological symptoms
  • Relationship issues
  • Flashbacks
  • Nightmares
  • Phobias
  • Chronic grief
  • ​Chronic pain​

How does eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing work?
The goal of eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing is to assist people with post-traumatic stress disorder by helping them re-experience past events without the associated emotional or physical distress. In these cases, the use of EMDR improves their mental health dramatically.

As the person focuses on a traumatic event, EMDR bypasses the trauma memory’s stored neural circuit by activating an alternative circuit through lateral eye movements. This activation of new neural circuits interrupts the out-of-control nerve impulses that maintain anxious or fearful thoughts.

Auricular techniques, as adjunctive therapy for EMDR, are used to activate the same mechanisms, shown to help with associative memory recall, through EMDR and restoration of dual attention, bypassing any requirement for cognitive (e.g., prefrontal cortex) involvement.

Shannon Bowman is director of Create Balance Psychotherapy and Counselling and leads neuro-auricular methods for EMDR at his practice in Geelong West.
​
He has partnered with the Canadian Institute of Auricular Medicine (CIAM) to enhance this dynamic and highly effective treatment for mental health conditions. Shannon’s passion is finding solutions to mental health problems through novel, innovative, complementary, and alternative medicine.

Author

​Shannon Bowman is the Director of SJB Clinical Consulting Pty Ltd,
and Create Balance Psychotherapy & Counselling VIEW HERE.
​Create Balance Laser Therapy VIEW HERE
The ADHD Ambition Course.
Shannon has a clinical interest in treating trauma, PTSD and ADHD.
He is accredited as a Mental Health Social Worker AMHSW,
psychotherapist and registered EMDR practitioner. Associations below.
Australian Association of Social Workers
EMDR Association of Australia

Different types of therapy

Different types of therapy

by | Apr 26, 2021 | Blog, EMDR Therapy

When contemplating therapy, the choice of which type of therapy and which therapist can seem overwhelming. However, with some time and research, it can become easier to make an informed decision.

​Therapy Types:
There are many, many different therapies out there. Most therapeutic approaches can be broken into four categories.
(1) Behaviour therapy
(2) Psychodynamic/psychoanalysis
(3) Humanistic
(4) Integrative.

CBT-graphic

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

Behaviour Therapies
Perhaps the most widely known therapy is Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). It views mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, as the result of faulty thinking and cognitive distortions. By correcting those distortions and by adapting our behaviour, symptoms will decrease and our goals can be achieved.
CBT does not prioritise the client, but rather the issue, which CBT would see as faulty thinking. CBT is often seen as the gold standard of treatment for anxiety and depression. During treatment, the therapist will take a very active role in achieving short-term goals, as agreed upon with the client, to prevent relapse and overall symptom management. This is done through a process of psychoeducation, regular homework tasks and goal setting.
However, CBT is far less effective for treating issues relating to emotional regulation, attachment, trauma, addiction and relationship issues, where a more in-depth approach is needed. An approach that prioritises the client-therapist relationship to create deeper level change.

Psychodynamic Therapy & Psychoanalysis
This therapeutic approach comes from the work of Sigmund Freud and other psychoanalysts. It is rooted in the unconscious and in understanding the past to manage more effectively with the present.
In psychodynamic therapy, the therapist takes on more of a role as an observer, rather than a facilitator. The work is long term and the relationship between the client and the therapist is emphasised. Psychodynamic and psychoanalysis is concerned with a deep rooted change in thoughts, feelings, and behaviour by linking into the unconscious and subconscious mind, rather than short-term goals and symptom reduction. It is therefore an appropriate therapy for longer-term concerns, including trauma, attachment and personality issues.

Humanistic Therapy (Person-Centered and Solution-Focused)
Humanistic therapy focuses on the positive attributes that a person has, including their personal characteristics, their strengths and their overall drive to self-actualisation. The therapy focuses on the here and now and on the client being able to take an active role in the therapy process. It is an approach that is heavily based on the work of Carl Rogers.

psychodynamic-therapy-vs-humanistic-therapy

Integrative approaches
The most contemporary therapy approaches are integrative and combine elements of all or some of the above. By combining these elements, integrative approaches create a stronger whole and are effective treatments for more complex problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), borderline personality disorder, addictions, emotional regulation and attachment issues.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Schema Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are integrative approaches.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) commonly involves the rapid movement of a client’s eyes, taxing their working memory and enabling them to reprogram their brain. It is a form of psychotherapy that was recognised as an effective way to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but has since been adapted to treat a range of other concerns.
EMDR is a unique approach, as it uses bilateral stimulation. This is often achieved through the therapist using their fingers or a pointer to guide the client’s eye movements back and forth. Therapists may even utilise a light travelling side to side across a bar. As well as visual bilateral stimulation, EMDR can also use tactile and auditory stimulation. Clients may be facilitated to feel different sensations that bounce within their hands or hear different sounds that are bounced within their environment.
EMDR is an integrative approach that combines elements from CBT, humanistic and psychodynamic therapies in a unified whole. It focuses on the client as the centre of the process. Much like in psychoanalysis, there is also an element of free association. For example, during an EMDR session, the therapist will often ask the client, “What are you noticing now?”
The main idea behind EMDR is that when someone experiences trauma, that trauma memory goes into an isolated part of the brain and to a separate memory network. When a trauma memory is successfully processed in EMDR, it then becomes fully integrated and joins another memory bank network. In essence, the idea behind EMDR is that unprocessed and unintegrated memories can cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Schema Therapy
Schema therapy is long-term psychotherapy that was created out of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for the treatment of personality issues and borderline personality disorder (BPD).
Schema therapy combines elements from attachment theory, psychoanalysis, humanistic therapy, as well as CBT. The core idea behind schema therapy is that everyone has needs as a child and when those needs go unmet, often chronically, then ‘schemas’ develop. Schemas are a way in which we view the world and other people. They contain beliefs, feelings, thoughts, emotions and sensations.
In response to not wanting to feel the emotions that these schemas trigger, we develop coping styles or survival methods that are effective when we are a child but have become less effective as an adult. Schema coping is often most notable in relationships or in response to relationships and interpersonal situations.
Schema therapy, similarly to psychodynamic therapy, is focused on deep level change and a connection between understanding and working through the past to better cope with the present.
The therapy relationship in schema is central to the treatment and blends between humanistic and attachment. During schema therapy, the therapist meets the unmet needs of the client. This is achieved through the therapy relationship, as well as through a range of experiential techniques, including chair dialogues, parts work, imagery work and behaviour pattern-breaking.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy or DBT is a treatment that was designed specifically for borderline personality disorder and highly suicidal clients. It is used in both group and individual therapy. DBT is a behaviour therapy, in that it works on the client having the skills and the tools to be able to deal more effectively with an environment that is triggering and often pulling them into crisis. DBT is a skills-based therapy and highly psychoeducational, as well as combining elements of Buddhism and existentialism. Two of its core principles include acceptance and change as principles that co-exist. DBT is a highly structured therapy, similar to CBT. It utilises an active and engaging therapist, similar to a teacher, and is split over four modules: distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or ACT is an integrative Cognitive Behavior Therapy. One of the core ideas in ACT is building psychological flexibility. ACT in essence is about embracing our difficult thoughts and our feelings, instead of trying to get rid of them or feel guilty for experiencing them. ACT uses many elements of mindfulness, as well as cognitive techniques to illustrate how our thoughts only have meaning once we give them that. ACT uses six processes to build psychological flexibility: defusion, acceptance, contact with the present moment, the observing self, values and committed action.

Summary
When looking to start therapy, it can first help to understand a little about some of the main approaches that are out there and which ones you feel may be best suited for your needs. You may also consider whether you think therapy might be a long or a short term process and any barriers you might have that hamper your ability to commit to therapy. A typical length of therapy in Australia is for ten sessions with a Medicare subsidised Mental Health Care Plan. However, therapy will often extend beyond this in order to address deeper change. Create Balance utilises a range of therapeutic approaches to suit your needs and prioritises integrative treatments such as EMDR.