What is EMDR?

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EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a form of psychotherapy developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, initially designed to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it is now used for a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders.

EMDR therapy involves a structured eight-phase approach where the therapist helps the client process distressing memories by using bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements, but sometimes tapping or auditory stimuli). The core concept behind EMDR is that distressing memories can become "stuck" or unprocessed in the brain, leading to emotional or psychological difficulties. By stimulating both sides of the brain (through bilateral stimulation), EMDR aims to facilitate the processing of these memories, reducing their emotional charge and allowing the brain to integrate them in a healthier way.

1. History Taking: The therapist gathers information about the client’s history and identifies target memories that may need processing.
2. Preparation: The therapist establishes trust and rapport with the client and explains the process of EMDR.
3. Assessment: The therapist identifies specific memories to target and works with the client to pinpoint negative beliefs associated with those memories.
4. Desensitization: The therapist uses bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements) while the client focuses on the distressing memory. This phase helps the client process the memory and reduce its emotional charge.
5. Installation: The goal here is to replace negative beliefs with more adaptive, positive beliefs.
6. Body Scan: The therapist asks the client to focus on any physical sensations related to the memory. Any remaining tension or discomfort is processed using bilateral stimulation.
7. Closure: The session is concluded, and the client is brought back to a state of equilibrium, regardless of whether the memory has been fully processed.
8. Reevaluation: In follow-up sessions, the therapist checks to see if the memory and associated issues have been fully resolved or if further processing is necessary.

• Bilateral Stimulation: This is the hallmark of EMDR, where the client is guided to move their eyes back and forth, while simultaneously focusing on the memory. Other forms of bilateral stimulation may include auditory sounds or tactile sensations (e.g., tapping).
• Memory Reprocessing: The idea is that the brain can reprocess memories and reduce their emotional intensity, allowing the person to move forward.
• Focus on the Present: While the focus is on past trauma, EMDR also involves strengthening the person’s present coping abilities and future orientation.

EMDR has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD and is recognized as an evidence-based treatment by organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) and World Health Organization (WHO). Many people who undergo EMDR therapy report significant reductions in distressing symptoms, sometimes in a relatively short amount of time, compared to traditional talk therapies.

EMDR is often recommended for individuals who have experienced trauma, but it is also used to treat conditions like anxiety, panic attacks, grief, and phobias.

If you’re considering EMDR, it’s important to work with a licensed therapist who has been trained in the method.