EMDR and Performance Enhancement
Using EMDR for Performance Enhancement
When people think of EMDR, they usually associate it with trauma treatment since, of course, it is a popular first-line, evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD. BUT! There are a ton of other psychological and behavioral issues that EMDR is being used to effectively treat and address. EMDR is being used to treat anxiety, depression, panic disorder, phobias, dissociation, chronic pain, problems with attachment, psychosis-related concerns, and more. Check out this summary of research compiled by the EMDR Institute. One area that is gaining fast traction is in its use for performance enhancement. Whether you’re an athlete, a business leader, a creative professional, or someone who wants to unlock more of your potential, EMDR can help you move beyond blocks and tap into greater flow, focus, and confidence.
What is EMDR?
EMDR, short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a comprehensive psychotherapy that is based on the idea that psychological issues are the result of insufficiently processed, maladaptively stored adverse memories from the past. And that these memories, and all of the negative material contained in them (think emotions, body sensations, thoughts, and beliefs), are a primary cause of a person’s issues. In EMDR therapy, the goal is to explore and identify what unresolved experiences are at the root of a problem, then process them to adaptive resolution.
A simple example is if a person has a car accident and is subsequently anxious about driving. They may not be thinking about the original accident as they are going about their day, but some of the distressing memories may still be unprocessed, leading to excess fear. This client would work with their therapist in processing the original event that led to the anxiety (i.e., the accident), leading the anxiety to resolve.
Why Performance Is More Than Skill
Unfortunately, achieving high performance isn’t just about training or talent. For example, every says golf is a “mental game”. Of course, you need skill and training to be successful, but we are humans after all, and therefore we come with our own filter on how we see ourselves and the world. No matter how much we train, certain unseen factors can have a huge impact on our confidence and effectiveness in how we perform at certain tasks. Some of these unseen internal factors interfere: - Past experiences of failure, embarrassment, or being judged can leave emotional imprints. - These imprints can trigger anxiety, self‑doubt, or physiological disruptions in high‐pressure performance moments.
A Case Example with Performance Blocks
A performance block in sports refers to when an athlete suddenly loses the ability to execute automatic movements. They are generally believed to be of psychological origin and may manifest as feeling locked, stuck, or frozen. As you can imagine, this often results in poorer performance, which in turn creates more frustration and fear, which then makes things even worse. The athlete is then in a vicious cycle of negativity.
This case study of a 58-year-old golfer in the UK who had been suffering from performance blocks for 11 years showed significant improvement with a combination of EMDR therapy and graded exposure (slowly introducing stressful stimuli). The subject of the study worked with an EMDR therapist to identify and process memories not only related to past negative golf experiences but also other negative pivotal experiences from his early childhood development.
Other studies and publications on EMDR with Performance Enhancement
This study showed the results of EMDR therapy with 4 Division 1 student athletes who had been injured. Sports injuries are commonly associated with PTSD symptoms as well as a fear of re-injury. These issues can create negative complications for people trying to perform at their highest level. Participants in this study experienced benefits regarding mood and athletic performance.
This study was performed by the sports psychologist for a soccer club in Cambridge, UK, and showed EMDR to be an effective alternative to imagery on self-efficacy, confidence, and anxieties of elite “footballers”. Benefits of EMDR therapy noted in this study included EMDR working at a deeper level, effects sustained over a longer period, positive spillover effects into other life domains aside from sport, acquiring more effective strategies in letting go of mistakes, and resolving latent stress levels and unresolved conflicts.
This paper is a case study of two female professional golfers. Each participant had sports-related trauma (i.e., trauma while competing). The therapist used the floatback technique to identify unresolved memories at the root of their issues, and then processed these with EMDR therapy, leading to increased confidence and reduced anxiety.
This study, done in Helsinki, Finland, involved treating four athletes with sports-related post-traumatic stress symptoms with one session of EMDR therapy, leading to reduced anxiety and improved self-confidence.
This study showed EMDR to be effective for test anxiety.
Listen to this episode of the EMDR International Association Podcast (Let’s Talk EMDR) where EMDR Certified Therapist and Consultant, Christopher Brown, LCSW, talks about EMDR for professionals in high-stress careers.
Check out this Psychology Today article discussing the use of EMDR with performance.
Start Working With an EMDR Therapist in Palm Beach County, FL
Performance isn’t always just about training, skill, or talent. To access those abilities consistently and without obstacles, it’s important to feel confident and be “out of your head,” so to speak. Sometimes, adverse experiences in the past create these blocks, and EMDR is an effective therapy that can help. By resolving emotional and physiological blocks, clients can get back to performing at their best! You can start your therapy journey with the team at Mangrove Therapy Group by following these simple steps:
- Contact Mangrove Therapy Group
- Meet with a caring, skilled therapist
- Start finding peak performance!
Other Services Offered with Mangrove Therapy Group
EMDR therapy is only service that our team offers support with. Our therapists are trained to support you through so much more. Our Delray Beach, FL office also offers care for:
- Trauma therapy, PTSD, and Complex PTSD
- Substance use and process addictions
- Eating disorders and body image concerns
- Grief, loss, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem challenges
- Anger, shame, and emotional dysregulation
- “Failure to Launch” issues and life transitions
- CBT and DBT-based support
If you’re ready, we’re here. You can learn more from our blog or FAQs page!