The Kansas City Union Station shooting during the Super Bowl parade has left an undeniable mark on the community, stirring up a whirlwind of emotions and trauma. In times like these, it’s essential to explore therapeutic approaches that can aid in processing and healing from such distressing events. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CID) are two powerful therapeutic techniques that can offer solace and support to individuals grappling with the aftermath of tragedy. With this approach, there is power in verbally acknowledging what happened while incorporating our brains and bodies holding onto the emotional stress and trauma of such events.
Brain and body movement are vital in grieving, healing, and moving forward with tenderness and resilience. At Heartland Therapy Connection, situated in the Brookside neighborhood in Kansas City, a group practice that specializes in offering trauma-informed care, we are offering one free EMDR session to those who have been affected by the events that took place on Wednesday, February 14th. We hope this article can explain how EMDR can be effective in the days directly following such a community-wide traumatic event.
Understanding EMDR
EMDR is a psychotherapy approach designed to help individuals process traumatic memories and alleviate associated symptoms. It involves a structured eight-phase protocol, during which the therapist facilitates bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, taps, or sounds). At the same time, the client focuses on distressing memories, thoughts, or sensations. This bilateral stimulation is believed to facilitate the brain’s natural healing processes, enabling traumatic memories to be reprocessed and integrated more effectively.
Benefits of EMDR
- Trauma Processing: EMDR can help individuals safely confront and process traumatic memories associated with the Kansas City Union Station shooting. I was recently talking with an acquaintance about the power of acknowledgment. Suppose the acknowledgment is not done after such a tragic and acute event, where almost everyone knows what happened but individuals cannot converse about it. In that case, the silence can incur further wounding. Talking about the shooting that took place towards the end of the Super Bowl parade requires much care. Our hope with acknowledging what happened, coupled with the approach of EMDR, is that you will experience attunement from your therapist and feel safe in your body as you process the sensations that happened amid the event and the sensations you are experiencing in the present. Using bilateral stimulation, one of the critical aspects of EMDR is allowing clients to access and reprocess these memories in a controlled and supportive environment, gradually diminishing their emotional charge and distressing impact.
- Symptom Reduction: EMDR is highly effective in reducing symptoms commonly associated with trauma, such as anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts. By addressing the root cause of these symptoms—the unprocessed traumatic memories—EMDR empowers individuals to experience relief and reclaim a sense of control over their mental and emotional well-being.
- Resilience Building: Through reprocessing traumatic memories, EMDR helps individuals develop adaptive coping mechanisms and resilience in adversity. By transforming how traumatic experiences are stored and perceived in the brain, EMDR empowers individuals to move forward with greater strength, resilience, and hope for the future.
How an EMDR Session May Proceed Directly After a Crisis
Here is how a simplified EMDR session may go;
- Identify the Memory: Start by identifying the specific memory or experience causing distress.
- Rate the Disturbance: You will be asked to rate how upsetting or distressing that memory feels on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 being not upsetting and ten being extremely upsetting.
- Use Bilateral Stimulation: You will be introduced to bilateral stimulation, which involves gentle, rhythmic movements or sounds that engage both sides of the brain. This could involve following your therapist’s fingers moving back and forth, listening to alternating sounds in each ear, or even slow tapping on each kneecap while sitting down.
- Focus on the Memory: While experiencing the bilateral stimulation, you may be guided to focus on the memory or experience you rated as upsetting. Your therapist may also help you notice any thoughts, feelings, or sensations that come up.
- Repeat and Check-In: Continue with the bilateral stimulation for a little while, then pause to check in. Your therapist will ask how you’re feeling. Typically, therapists aim to reassure you that you are now safe, that you are no longer physically in the memory you are recalling, and that you can stop processing/reprocessing at any time.
- Re-Rate the Disturbance: After the session, you may be asked to rate the distress of the memory again. Often, people find that the distress has decreased, even after just one session.
Understanding CID Therapy
Critical incident desensitization (CID) is a structured crisis intervention approach that can be incorporated into EMDR, designed to provide immediate support and debriefing to individuals and groups following traumatic events. Individuals can talk about their experiences that are intense while also utilizing EMDR therapy’s bilateral stimulation (slow tapping on both sides of the body) to bring a desensitization to the stressed nervous system. CID typically involves a structured debriefing session led by trained mental health professionals, during which participants are encouraged to share their experiences, thoughts, and emotions related to the traumatic event. CID aims to promote emotional processing, normalization of reactions, and the development of coping strategies in the aftermath of trauma.
Benefits of CID Therapy
- Immediate Support: CID provides immediate support and validation to individuals affected by the Kansas City Union Station shooting in the aftermath of the tragedy. By offering a safe space to share their experiences and emotions, CID helps individuals feel heard, understood, and supported during intense distress and uncertainty.
- Emotional Processing: Through structured debriefing and discussion, CID facilitates the emotional processing of traumatic experiences and reactions. By encouraging individuals to express their thoughts and feelings in a supportive environment, CID helps prevent the development of long-term psychological symptoms and fosters resilience in the face of adversity.
- Coping Strategies: CID equips individuals with practical coping strategies and resources to navigate the challenges posed by the Kansas City Union Station shooting. By providing psychoeducation, stress management techniques, and referrals to additional support services, CID empowers individuals to effectively cope with the aftermath of trauma and promote their long-term well-being.
In the aftermath of the Kansas City Union Station tragedy, EMDR and CID therapy offer invaluable support and healing to individuals grappling with the impact of trauma. Whether through the reprocessing of traumatic memories in EMDR or the immediate support and debriefing provided by CID, these therapeutic approaches empower individuals to navigate their journey toward healing with resilience, strength, and hope. As the community comes together to support one another in the wake of this devastating event, let us embrace the power of therapy to heal hearts, mend wounds, and rebuild lives. Contact us today and book an appointment with any of our trauma-informed and EMDR-trained therapists by calling 816-287-0252 or going to https://heartlandtherapyconnection.com. With EMDR and CID therapy, we can stand firm in adversity and emerge from tragedy with renewed resilience and hope for the future.
