As more and more people turn to online therapies to address unresolved trauma, it's essential to understand the effectiveness of different techniques. One popular form of online therapy is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which uses eye movements and other forms of bilateral stimulation to help people process traumatic memories and experiences.

In this blog, we will explore the practice of EMDR therapy and one of the techniques used in online EMDR therapy called "butterfly tapping," developed by Lucina Artigas. We will look at the evidence to answer whether this form of EMDR treatment actually works.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

EMDR psychotherapy is one of the most well-researched and widely practiced psychotherapy treatments used to alleviate the debilitating effects of traumas. This EMDR therapy precisely targets both latent and evident traumas.

EMDR has been used successfully on a diverse group of people suffering from conditions ranging from anxiety to severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). EMDR therapy has become so successful it is the number one prescribed primary treatment for people living with PTSD and has been endorsed by the WHO and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for years.

The Emergence of EMDR

EMDR therapy is effective because of the methods it implements and its efficient approach to desensitizing traumatic memories. One of the primary thoughts behind this technique is that even though the mind forgets trauma, the body keeps score.

EMDR is based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) Model proposed by its founder Francine Shapiro in 1987. The thinking behind the AIP model is that when something traumatic happens, it gets stored in the brain's neural network.

So, whenever a person remembers the event, they also reconnect with all the negative emotions and thoughts associated with it. The goal is to add adaptive emotions to the neural network using bilateral stimulation called “The Butterfly Hug” tapping technique.

This process creates new neural pathways and allows us to access stored trauma, reprocessing it until the anxiety reduces so that new associations can be made with different memories. As a result, more adaptive behaviors become possible.

EMDR – Overview of its Method and Benefits

There are eight phases in EMDR therapy, and each of these phases is completed in sequences to ensure maximum treatment efficiency. However, for this section, we will be giving you a synopsis of how EMDR treatment works.

In the beginning stage, the counselor Assesses the patient's readiness to assimilate EMDR therapy. The therapist looks over the client’s history and completes several psychotherapy outcome measurements with the client. This process helps the therapist prepare a targeted treatment plan that identifies distressing memories, triggers, and emotional distress.  

Once the target planning stage is complete, the next phase prepares the patient for EMDR processing by developing a “safe place” and a “container.” The point of having a safe place is to teach and show the client that it's possible to shift from feeling distressed to calm within a short amount of time. This skill is crucial for managing emotions and promoting healthy self-soothing, but it's also necessary before any processing of traumatic events can occur.

The container is designed to help you control and contain complex thoughts, feelings, and sensations. Developing a container allows you to manage them more effectively and return to them when you're ready to address them. It's not about avoidance or denial but rather self-control, empowerment, and gaining mastery over your emotions. The container provides a space for you to set aside upsetting experiences until you are able or ready to address them directly.

The therapist instructs the patients to create visual images to develop their safe spaces or containers using their senses of sight, sound, smell, and touch with the mind-eye while incorporating bilateral stimulation called the butterfly hug. While the protocol seems straightforward and linear, it is quite the opposite. The safe place and the container must be developed and in place before EMDR processing can begin.

The EMDR processing stage of the therapy involves reprocessing traumatic memories using bilateral stimulation to help the client process their memories. This is done by having the client focus on a traumatic memory while using bilateral stimulation hand movements called the butterfly hug.

A strong connection is created between the traumatic event (or the image they produce in the patient’s mind), the belief or idea the traumatic event creates about the patient’s persona, and the emotions and physical sensations these memories evoke.

While the client creates this connection, bilateral stimulation, such as tapping, initiates the EMDR process. This phase is the most active and crucial phase of the therapy. After the bilateral stimulation, the therapist instructs the patient to calm their mind, take a deep breath, and relax. The therapist notes the sensation, emotions, images, or memories evoked during this process to assess the distress level.

The bilateral stimulation is related to Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep functions which help to increase the brain’s ability to process, store and integrate information. Using bilateral stimulation in EMDR, therapists can assist the client in accessing the brain's natural memory processor to reduce the disruption caused by the traumatic memory and create a more adaptive response.

REM is the action your brain naturally performs while you sleep. So, an EMDR therapist uses bilateral stimulation to activate that natural process in the brain that allows you to process specific pieces of information that are causing you distress—resulting in less or no distress with the specific targeted memory, incident, or emotion.

EMDR therapy involves attention to three time periods: the past, present, and future. Focus is given to past disturbing memories, related events, and situations that cause distress and to develop the skills and attitudes needed for positive future actions. With EMDR therapy, these items are addressed using an eight-phase treatment approach.

The Eight Phases in EMDR Defined:

History Analysis and Treatment Planning (Phase One): The first phase is where the patient’s history is understood, and the client’s internal and external resources are analyzed.

Understanding and Mental Preparation (Phase Two): This phase includes telling the patient what to expect from the therapy, letting go of emotions, etc.

Assessment (Phase Three): Understanding and establishing the SUD (subjective units of distress) by asking the patient to give several different emotional responses to past events.  

Desensitization (Phase Four): The crucial part of the therapy is reducing the emotional impact of the traumatic events using bilateral stimulation such as tapping, eye movement, etc.

Positive Reinforcement (Phase Five): Reprocessing the target experience and installing a positive belief to be associated with the experience targeted.

Physical Assessment (Phase Six): In this step, the therapist asks the patient to think about the target experience and the newly established positive belief and emotion and checks the body to process any remaining elements of trauma with bilateral stimulation.

Calming (Phase Seven): After the session, the patient is asked to calmly return to the normal state with deep breaths and relaxed body posture.

Analysis and Reevaluation (Phase Eight): The therapist discusses the sessions, the memories, and how the patient feels and, based on the inputs, determines the target and direction of the next session.

What is Butterfly Tapping

Butterfly Tapping or Butterfly Hug is a form of bilateral stimulation therapy that has emerged as an effective EMDR therapy. Instead of being very complicated and lengthy, as mentioned above, Butterfly Tapping is a simple and quick way of calming your nerves. Butterfly Tapping can help alleviate stress, anxiety, overwhelming emotion, or elevated excitement (spiking up of epinephrine). This derivative of EMDR therapy acts fast and can be self-administered at any place, at any time.

How Butterfly Tapping is administered in EMDR therapy.

Butterfly tapping is extremely simple and easy to practice; it does not require extra equipment or require you to maintain a rigid posture. However, it works best in a quiet, safe, comfortable, and relaxed place. Here are the steps to Butterfly Hug EMDR therapy.

Step One

Take a few deep breaths to relax and sit in a comfortable position with your back straight and chest widened. Hunched posture with an arched back restricts breathing and adds to the anxiety.

Step Two

Cross your arms and put your palms on your chest so your right hand is near your left shoulder and vice versa. The tip of your middle finger should touch the lower side of your collarbone.

Make sure that your hands stay vertical. Your fingers should point toward your ears and not your shoulders.

Step Three

Close your eyes, as visualization is an integral part of this therapy. Visualize the targeted memories and sensations in your body.

Step Four

With your eyes closed and slow, calm breathing, start gently tapping your hands alternatively. First, tap on your chest with your left hand, then with the right, then again with the left, and so on.

Step Five

Refrain from focusing on the tempo or the way of tapping. Let your hands tap at a gentle pace and focus on breathing deeply. Make sure you breathe in with your abdomen (your belly should move up and down as you breathe in and out.)

After a few breaths, observe the images presented in front of your eyes. Notice all the thoughts, sounds, emotions, memories, fears, joys, etc., that take center stage.

Note: Do not try to pursue a memory or emotion actively. Allow your mind to show the memories and observe them. Focus on your breathing and notice the gentle taps.

Step Six

After a few minutes (three to five minutes for most cases), start slowing down the tapping until you eventually come to a stop. Open your eyes and continue the deep breaths. You can repeat the process if needed. 

Can EMDR Butterfly Tapping be Done Through Online Therapy

No therapy can be helpful if it cannot be successfully administered or accessible to the people who need it. EMDR Butterfly Tapping stands out because of its simplicity and effectiveness, and it can be delivered without any physical assistance.

So, can EMDR Butterfly Tapping be done through online therapy? Absolutely. Butterfly Tapping can be done even more effectively through online therapy. How is that possible?

The great thing about EMDR therapy is that it does not require the patient or client to share or talk to the therapist. The treatment utilizes the mind’s potential and ability to create images, analyze emotions, and heal just like the body does.

While the traditional and complicated EMDR therapy for severe PTSD and other conditions requires patients to visit the clinic for proper administration and treatment, EMDR Butterfly Tapping can be done over online meetings.

Online therapy for Butterfly Tapping is better because it is most effective when the patient is in a safe and trusted space. Many people may find the therapist's office uncomfortable to sit at and unable to relax properly.

All that is required by the patient is to be able to listen to the therapist and follow the procedure as directed by them. Just keep these things in mind:

● Do not rush the process. Likely, you might not feel any benefits in the first session. This failure to achieve the end goal leads to more anxiety. Remember that your mind and your trauma are complex. It will take some time to resolve.

● The failure rate of EMDR therapy is high in people who are emotionally detached and do not believe that therapy can help them. If you have similar notions, remember to be fluid and not rigid. Trust that your mind can be influenced and molded in the right way.

● Not letting emotions completely out can also hinder the process of healing. The fear of letting go of the pain or not being comfortable confronting the emotions can lead to improper treatment.

The Takeaway

EMDR therapy online is an effective treatment method for addressing unresolved trauma symptoms. Butterfly Tapping is friendlier than other techniques used for online EMDR therapy. If you are struggling to get over any traumatic memory from the past, try giving EMDR Butterfly Tapping would be an excellent treatment choice.

Butterfly Tapping can also be employed when you feel anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed. EMDR has an astonishing track record of improving severe PTSD, anxiety, and even OCD in short periods. If it helps your mind in healing, it is worth a try.