EMDR Therapy for Veterans: How It Works and Why It Helps
Many veterans try talk therapy without getting full relief from trauma symptoms. This is a very common experience, and often, it is where approaches like EMDR therapy come in. EMDR is a top first-line treatment for PTSD. It is endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) for combat and service-related trauma.
EMDR differs from traditional talk therapy in several ways. During EMDR sessions, you picture a memory without needing to talk about it in detail. The techniques used in EMDR therapy for PTSD in veterans train your brain and nervous system to understand that you’re safe, rather than just knowing that you’re safe on a cognitive level.
EMDR is unique to many other treatments because it does not require in-depth verbal re-telling, follows a specific 8-phase approach, and is highly effective for helping people process “stuck,” stressful memories or situations. Veterans often find that EMDR helps them move forward in ways that other treatments haven’t. It is one of the therapies used in J.O.H.N, our veterans and first responders program.
What Makes Veteran Trauma Different
Why is EMDR particularly good for veteran trauma? Looking at what makes veteran trauma different can help explain why the deeper processing EMDR provides is key for so many people, even if other therapies aren’t fully effective.
Combat and operational trauma vs. civilian trauma
Veterans often have repeated, prolonged, or accumulative trauma. This is called complex trauma, which EMDR therapy is often very helpful for. Recurring deployments, the moral weight of combat decisions, and unit loss are emotionally challenging and can be complicated in ways single-event trauma may not be.
Why standard talk therapy sometimes stalls
You may understand that you are currently safe, but your body may not have gotten the message. Trauma can be stored non-verbally. Your nervous system still may not realize that you are in a different place and situation now, hence the continuation of trauma symptoms. It can be hard to talk through trauma, like combat, that wasn’t processed verbally to begin with. In turn, many veterans find that talk therapy is limited in what it can do.
What EMDR Actually Is
EMDR is an acronym for “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.” This describes what happens in the majority of EMDR therapy sessions, though there are some steps a therapist will complete with you before the bulk of the work begins.
The mechanism (how it works)
How does EMDR work for veterans? EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, which refers to activating both sides of the brain through sensory input. This is usually done via eye movements or tapping. Your EMDR therapist will use bilateral stimulation while asking you to hold the memory, allowing your brain to reprocess it. Reprocessing traumatic memories in EMDR means that your nervous system stops responding as though it’s under an active threat. In research, we see that it can modify overactive brain networks seen in people with PTSD.
What a typical EMDR session looks like
EMDR has 8 structured phases. Your first 1-2 sessions will focus primarily on history taking, planning, and preparation. Once the therapist starts to use bilateral stimulation, sessions will mostly involve repeating steps 3-7. Re-evaluation happens at the end of treatment, or periodically if you have multiple memories to target.
- History-taking and planning.
- Preparation (stress reduction and coping skills).
- Assessment (target memory identification).
- Desensitization (using bilateral stimulation to lower distress tied to the memory).
- Installation (installing a positive belief).
- Body scan (checking for remaining physical sensations).
- Closure (returning to a calm state).
- Re-evaluation (reviewing progress, deciding whether more sessions are needed)
EMDR sessions last about 50-90 minutes each. The VA notes that, while it takes about three months, many people see benefits within just a few sessions.
Why EMDR Is Endorsed for Veterans Specifically
Although EMDR helps individuals overcome the effects of diverse situations and events other than combat and service-related trauma, EMDR is also endorsed for veterans as a specific group. There are several reasons for this.
VA and DoD backing
EMDR is named as a first-line PTSD treatment in VA and DoD clinical practice guidelines. First-line means it is one of the most effective and preferred treatments.
Evidence for combat-related PTSD
Evidence strongly supports EMDR for combat-related PTSD. According to the VA, it produces moderate to strong effects in regard to the reduction of PTSD and depression symptoms. Some people no longer meet the criteria for PTSD after treatment. A study on EMDR vs. an antidepressant called fluoxetine, often used off-label for PTSD, showed that EMDR was more effective.
EMDR vs. Other Trauma Therapies
How does EMDR compare to other trauma therapies? Veterans we work with find success via a combination of treatments like EMDR, peer support, and other methods.
EMDR vs. traditional CBT/talk therapy
One of the major benefits of EMDR for veterans is that there’s no requirement to verbally recount the trauma in detail. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other standard talk therapies typically involve re-telling the event. CBT focuses on the relationship between thoughts and feelings. While this can be helpful, it has a different place in treatment.
EMDR and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
Another type of treatment used for trauma in veterans is called Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). ART is very similar to EMDR. It is a faster-acting modality that produces results quickly. Many veterans respond in about 3.5 sessions. Like EMDR, ART uses bilateral stimulation and isn’t as talk-heavy as treatments like CBT. We use both EMDR and accelerated resolution therapy for veterans.
What to Expect if You’re Considering EMDR
How do you know if EMDR is right for you? What should you expect from it? Every person in PTSD treatment for first responders and veterans at our center gets a personalized treatment plan. We’re here to answer your questions and help you find what works.
Common concerns veterans raise
Before starting EMDR therapy, veterans often raise concerns like, “Will I have to relive my trauma out loud?” and “How many sessions will I need?” Again, with EMDR, one of the advantages is that you don’t need to go into detail about your trauma out loud. The number of sessions people need varies, but on average, you can usually expect about 6-12.
Signs EMDR might be a good fit
EMDR may be a good fit for you if:
- You’re stuck on specific memories
- You have physical/somatic trauma responses
- Prior therapy didn’t fully help
We repeatedly see that people who have been through other types of therapy but still react to triggers (or who have specific events to reprocess) respond to EMDR very well.
How J.O.H.N. Uses EMDR for Veterans
Just One Hero Needed (J.O.H.N.) is a veteran and first responder-only treatment center. In the residential program at J.O.H.N., we use EMDR and ART to help veterans reduce reactions to trauma symptoms. The treatments focus on changing distressing mental images, negative beliefs, and symptoms like hypervigilance and flashbacks.
In addition to using the most evidence-based treatments for trauma in veterans, the veteran-specific peer environment at J.O.H.N. provides a critical sense of camaraderie. Shared experiences, understanding, and mutual support are an irreplaceable and profoundly healing component of treatment.
Conclusion
EMDR is evidence-based, not experimental. It is a highly effective trauma therapy that is a good fit for veterans who have trauma symptoms that haven’t resolved using talk therapy alone. Specialized programs for trauma in veterans matter both because treatment modalities are tailored to your specific needs and because your peer and living environment will consist of others who understand your life experiences, including current potential challenges and previous events.
Contact J.O.H.N to Learn More About EMDR for Veterans
Is EMDR right for you? How do you know? Our team provides personalized treatment for veterans and first responders with PTSD and other concerns. Reach out to J.O.H.N. to ask whether EMDR is right for your situation today at 616.202.3326. All calls are 100% confidential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EMDR covered by VA benefits or insurance?
Yes. Because it is an evidence-based treatment, EMDR is covered by VA benefits and most health insurance plans. We’ll verify your benefits before you start treatment to ensure that there are no surprises.
How many EMDR sessions do veterans typically need?
Veterans often need 6-12 EMDR sessions. However, the exact number can vary. Veterans working to reprocess one specific incident or deployment event may need 3-6 sessions. Those with multiple events to process, complex trauma, or moral injury may require more.
Does EMDR work for combat-related flashbacks specifically?
Yes. Research on EMDR for combat veterans shows that EMDR is effective in reducing PTSD symptoms. Flashbacks are a common symptom of PTSD. We see that they tend to reduce and resolve through EMDR.
What’s the difference between EMDR and Accelerated Resolution Therapy?
EMDR is backed by decades of research. Accelerated Resolution Therapy, or ART, is newer than EMDR, but it shows promising results. ART takes fewer sessions and focuses more on changing distressing visual images and sensory details than on installing new beliefs.
