EMDR Therapy
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), is an integrative psychotherapy approach. It is a treatment model design to help individuals heal from traumatic events or distressing life experiences. The client is asked to focus on a negative belief, memory, body sensation and/or emotion associated with the traumatic or distressing experience. It works by moving the eyes right to left (or left to right) while simultaneously identifying a distressing, thought, memory or image. The idea is to allow the brain to process/ organize these memories that have been stuck in their state specific state ie (the way the trauma was experienced it carries the same emotional charge as it had when experienced). Processing of the memory causes an adaptive shift in all components of the memory including sense of time, age, symptoms, reactive behaviors and sense of self.
Moving the eyes is not the only effective method helping the brain to process. Clinicians’ can also use BLS bilateral Stimulation such as tapping left and right with hands or using therapy tappers. Clinicians seek to assist the client in helping the brain digest old material stored in a manner that continues to activate/trigger the client in the present.
How did EMDR Therapy begin?
EMDR was discovered accidentally by Francine Shapiro, a PH.d psychology student. In 1987, Shapiro noticed that as disturbing thoughts came into her mind her eyes would spontaneously start moving very rapidly back and forth. Through testing her theory she began trying different eye movement strategies and asking subjects to focus on different components of disturbing material.
Today EMDR is the choice treatment for PTSD especially among veteran populations. It is shown to have an 80% success rate in treating post-traumatic stress syndrome.
Contact us if you have any questions or use our digital assistant Wendi to schedule an intake appointment today!
Recent Posts
