EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It was developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Francine Shapiro, and it is now recognized by organizations like the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization as an effective treatment for trauma-related problems. EMDR therapy is a very effective, research-backed method that helps people process memories of traumatic (stressful) experiences and significantly diminish (often completely eliminate) emotional and physical reactions to those memories.
EMDR helps your brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer feel overwhelming or stuck in the present. This is done through guided sets of eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation (such as gentle tapping or audio tones), while you focus on certain aspect of your trauma memory, including an image, negative beliefs associated with the memory, and a physical reaction to the memory (emotions and physical sensations). Successful reprocessing of the disturbing memory significantly reduces and sometimes completely eliminates the physical reaction to that memory. New elements, such as positive beliefs to replace negative beliefs, can be added to the traumatic memory.
The new version of the memory modified by EMDR is restabilized in long-term memory and when it is recalled again, it does not evoke the intense physical reaction like it would prior to EMDR treatment. When we try manage our traumatic, or just very stressful, memories by trying hard to “forget” them, the distressing aspects of the memory do not change and we continue to experience a similar level of disturbance each time we recall those memories.
EMDR therapy does not require you to describe every detail of your trauma out loud, however, some information about the traumatic event and current reaction to the memory is needed to start the process. Feedback about what is experienced during processing of the traumatic memory is needed to guide the process and to monitor progress.
The EMDR process follows eight phases: history taking and treatment planning, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and re-evaluation. These phases help individuals process traumatic or distressing memories and reduce emotional and physical distress associated with those memories. After successful treatment, people report feeling lighter, calmer, and more in control. The number of treatment sessions needed to make substantial progress depends on many factors including the number and severity of traumatizing experiences.
While EMDR is best known for treating PTSD, it’s also been shown to be effective for:
- Emotional wounds multiple sessions of talk therapy have not resolved
- Childhood abuse or neglect
-Sexual assault or domestic violence
-Grief and loss
-Medical trauma
-Car accidents or natural disasters
-Phobias and panic attacks
-Anxiety and performance issues
-Obsessive compulsive disorder
-Anger
-Addictions
EMDR is not hypnosis or a quick fix — but for many, it brings relief where other approaches have not. If you decide to try EMDR therapy, we will move forward together at your pace and you will always have an option of stopping treatment at any point. The decision whether to proceed or stop will always be yours.