In summary:
IEMT does not erase memories + emotions but can diminish their negative impact.
IEMT uses language patterns + eye movements to activate + change neural pathways.
IEMT is especially helpful for people who don’t want to retell their story or relive past events.
IEMT is NOT recommended for people with ocular injury or disease (poor focal vision is okay) or people with neurological conditions or severe mental health conditions.
Developed by an emergency room nurse in the UK, IEMT can help people release the negative effects of problematic memories, emotions and associations. With IEMT, individuals don’t need to retell their story or relive past events. Instead, IEMT focuses on changing how the emotional imprints impact the individual today.
Going a step further, IEMT can assist people in recalibrating maladaptive responses that they may have developed as a result of negative experiences. IEMT also can address how an individual perceives themselves within a situation, relationship or identity, such as mother, student, artist, performer, etc.
Stacking these therapeutic layers together creates and strengthens a foundation for people to build healthier mental frameworks that actually support their goals and the life they want to live.
What can IEMT address?
IEMT has been shown to be effective for:
traumatic experiences, by facilitating emotional resolution
problematic emotions, by reducing cognitive + emotional burdens
chronic stress, by targeting related thought patterns and
behavioral challenges, by supporting emotional regulation + improving self-perception.
How does IEMT work?
The practitioner begins by asking specific questions, meant to be answered in one word or phrase, to create language patterns that activate the relevant neural pathways.
Then, the practitioner guides the individual through precise eye movements, using the connection between the optic nerves and the brain’s limbic system, where memories and emotions are stored, to change the neurological and emotional imprints.
In short, IEMT:
first, uses specific language patterns to activate the relevant neural pathways; and
second, uses precise eye movements to disrupt those pathways + change emotional imprints.
What are the results?
Typically, IEMT makes negative or problematic memories, emotions and associations feel much less intense and much less present. Individuals often report feeling as though emotional binds have been broken. They are freer, less distracted and more able to carry on with their lives.
It’s important to note that IEMT does not erase memories or emotions. IEMT works on how an individual learned to feel a certain way, perhaps about a particular issue or situation. Every individual and issue is different, so results vary and are not guaranteed.
What is the session structure for IEMT?
It’s recommended that an individual have at least two sessions to address any one issue.
Typically, the first session addresses memories and emotions related to an issue, and the second session focuses on how the individual perceives themselves within that issue. This way, the individual can experience the full range of IEMT and optimize the benefits.
What makes IEMT different from EMDR?
IEMT is a bit more flexible and exploratory than the highly structured EMDR, with its multi-phase approach.
IEMT also can move more fluidly, as detailed storytelling and reliving the event is not required. IEMT focuses more on how memories, identities and associations feel in the present moment.
IEMT is centered on eye movements, whereas EMDR can incorporate tapping and auditory tones. It should be noted that specifically at TrueHeart Healing, bells are sometimes used to enhance the IEMT experience.
Can IEMT replace traditional therapy?
IEMT is designed to be supplementary to treatment by a licensed therapist. It is not diagnostic or talk therapy. In fact, it’s a great support for people who do not want to retell their story, as IEMT is meant to be nearly content-free.
Who should NOT have IEMT?
IEMT is not recommended for individuals with ocular disease, such as conjunctivitis, glaucoma, detached retina, or recent trauma, including external bruises. Poor focal vision and amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, are okay.
IEMT is also not recommended for individuals with any neurological disorder, such as epilepsy, unless authorized by a licensed physician, or any severe mental health conditions, unless authorized by a licensed therapist.
If you would like to discuss whether IEMT could be beneficial for your specific case, you are welcome to schedule a consultation here.
Or if you are ready to book your initial IEMT session, you can do so here. It would be a privilege to support you.