EMDR therapy is becoming increasingly well-known as public figures share their personal experiences with this unique form of healing. From actors and musicians to members of royalty, many celebrities have shared their experiences of how EMDR helped them work through difficult memories and find meaningful relief.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what EMDR is and highlight some of the well-known individuals who’ve benefited from it.
Key Takeaways
- EMDR is a type of therapy that uses eye movements to help process painful memories.
- Celebrities like Prince Harry, Lady Gaga, and Sandra Bullock have used EMDR to heal from trauma.
- EMDR is most associated with treating PTSD, but offers benefits for other mood disorders.
- It’s not the right fit for everyone, and some people may benefit best when EMDR is combined with other therapies.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a relatively new form of mental health treatment that aims to help individuals process and resolve trauma. Unlike traditional therapy, which mainly involves talking, the core of EMDR is bilateral stimulation—stimulating both hemispheres of the brain.
This process is believed to enhance the brain’s natural ability to process information, helping people change the impact of traumatic memories and reduce their emotional weight.
The main techniques involved in EMDR include moving the eyes back and forth, tapping on alternative sides of the body, and listening to sounds alternating between each ear.
EMDR was coined by psychologist Francine Shapiro in 1986. Throughout the 90s and early 2000s, researchers studied the benefits of EMDR for different mental health disorders, mainly focusing on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
With these studies showing consistent and long-lasting benefits, the therapy is now widely recognized by organizations such as the World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association.
More recently, EMDR has gained attention in popular culture, with public figures sharing the profound benefits of the therapy in their personal lives.
Celebrities Who Have Used EMDR Therapy
Many celebrities have talked openly about using EMDR. Here’s what they’ve said.
Prince Harry
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, used EMDR to deal with the grief of losing his mother, Princess Diana. He was filmed during his EMDR therapy session for the Apple TV series “The Me You Can’t See.“
During the show, he said, “One of the biggest lessons that I’ve ever learned in life is you’ve sometimes got to go back and to deal with really uncomfortable situations and be able to process it in order to be able to heal.”
The Duke has been credited for raising awareness about mental health and EMDR. A Guardian journalist said the scene “normalised misunderstood and potentially life-saving treatments.”
Jameela Jamil
Comedian Russell Brand and actress Jameela Jamil discussed EMDR on Brand’s podcast, Under the Skin. Jamil shared that EMDR helped her feel less fear tied to painful memories. She said, “It truly removed the emotion that was linked to the traumatic memory or thought process… Things that I used to find terrifying, I now find boring.”
Jamil explained that, because of childhood abuse, she developed severe OCD and was afraid of the dark. For years, she couldn’t sleep unless the lights were on. After just two EMDR sessions, she said she was able to sleep in the dark without any worries.
Sandra Bullock
Actress Sandra Bullock discussed her experience with EMDR in the podcast series Red Table Talk. She had therapy to address various traumatic experiences, including when an armed man invaded her home. Through EMDR, she came to understand unhealthy patterns in her own life related to the trauma.
“When I got out of it [the therapy session], I realized I have surrounded myself often with unsafe people and situations because that was the most familiar feeling I had,” she said. She described the therapy as “the most healing.”
Lady Gaga
Singer-songwriter Lady Gaga (born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta) developed PTSD after being sexually abused several times at age 19. She believes this trauma played a role in her developing fibromyalgia, a condition that causes long-term pain.
In a 2020 interview with Oprah, Gaga shared how EMDR therapy helped her heal. She said she had felt “out of control,” and that EMDR helped her feel “more grounded” and better able to manage her emotions.
In the interview, Gaga brought attention to the link between trauma and chronic pain. Research now shows that EMDR may help with some chronic pain conditions by “re-wiring” brain pathways connected to ongoing pain.
Miley Cyrus
In “The Interview” podcast, singer-songwriter and actress Miley Cyrus shared that EMDR saved her life.
Cyrus recounted a therapy session where she was asked to explore all the points in her life in which she felt the same anxiety that she did on stage. Cyrus described having a psychedelic-like journey where she lived out her mother in the womb, hearing she’d be put up for adoption, and saw herself as a young girl on the mountains experiencing various traumas.
However, when the journey was resolved, Cyrus felt deeply healed and said she’s never experienced stage fright since.
Is EMDR Therapy Worth the Hype?
Several studies find EMDR to be highly effective for treating trauma-based disorders. It’s one of the most well-researched treatments for PTSD and is recommended as a first-line treatment by several health organizations. People with severe depression and anxiety disorders, including phobias and panic disorder, can also find long-lasting relief from their symptoms following EMDR.
Unlike other therapies, EMDR doesn’t require people to talk in detail about the trauma, which can be more tolerable for those who struggle to verbalize distressing events. EMDR can also be more rapid-acting than other types of therapy, with people reporting powerful benefits in symptoms from just a couple of sessions.
However, EMDR may not be the right fit for everyone. It tends to be most effective when challenges are linked to a specific trauma or a set of traumatic events, so it may not be helpful when there are other, more prominent causes.
Some people may also require additional support along with EMDR. While it can be powerful for reprocessing traumatic memories, it might not address deeper relational patterns or help with actively changing unhealthy lifestyle habits. People may also require additional interventions like medication or ketamine therapy to help with severe disorders.
FAQs
Are There Side Effects of EMDR Therapy?
Some people feel tired or emotional after a session. Others may have vivid dreams. These effects typically subside within a day or two. EMDR is generally considered safe when conducted by a trained therapist.
How Long Does it Take for EMDR to Make a Noticeable Difference?
Many people start to feel better after 3 to 6 sessions. The number of sessions depends on the person and the type of trauma being treated.
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