WHAT IS EMDR THERAPY?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy. It was developed in 1987 by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro initially for treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
However, it has since been successfully adapted to help resolve a wide number of issues (see above)
Dr. Shapiro’s theoretical model is based on the idea that current symptoms are triggered by unresolved traumas, which are ‘locked’ in the nervous system, leaving us open to being triggered by stimuli in our present life, reproducing the original traumatic state.
EMDR seems to unlock these unresolved traumatic effects, and allows our system to process and resolve them in a way that is no longer disturbing.
The ‘reprocessing’ aspect of treatment allows us to reinterpret the old material in a new way, letting go of what is no longer valuable about the experience, and allowing the adaptive memory networks of the brain to find new insights and resources.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
EMDR is linked to what occurs naturally during REM (rapid eye movement) and deep delta-stage sleep, where the eye movement stimulates cross-processing between the two hemispheres of the brain.
When we have disrupted sleep or nightmares, we experience distress. We can look at past trauma as a ‘living nightmare’ that disrupts our experience while we are awake.
During EMDR, the client is asked to bring up the worst part of the traumatic memory, while the clinician ‘re-starts’ bilateral processing in the brain through side-to-side hand movement, audio or hand taps until the client’s distress concerning the event subsides.
From there, the same bilateral stimulation is applied to help the client discover new and adaptive ways to view their experience positively.
DOES EMDR REALLY WORK?
EMDR accelerates the healing process. You should begin to notice positive changes physically, mentally and emotionally within the first few sessions.
That said, it can take longer for some people depending on the severity of the issues at hand. Experiences of several million people worldwide, and a number of scientific studies, have shown that EMDR works!
For further information on EMDR and a bibliography of research, visit this website: The EMDR Institute™ (Founded by Dr. Francine Shapiro)
HOW MANY SESSION WILL I NEED?
EMDR accelerates the healing process. You should begin to notice positive changes physically, mentally and emotionally within the first few sessions.
That said, it can take longer for some people depending on the severity of the issues at hand. Experiences of several million people worldwide, and a number of scientific studies, have shown that EMDR works!
For further information on EMDR and a bibliography of research, visit this website: The EMDR Institute™ (Founded by Dr. Francine Shapiro)
CAN ANY THERAPIST USE EMDR WITH ME?
Only a Masters-level therapist who has attended EMDRIA – approved training can use EMDR.
I have completed EMDRIA basic training (Level 1 and Level 2) and am certified to administer EMDR therapy.
