What is EMDR?

 EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a specific type of psychotherapy that enables people to recover from the symptoms and emotional distress that occur after a disturbing incident.   There are approximately 30+ studies that demonstrate that through the application of EMDR, individuals can have quicker relief from distress and symptoms following an upsetting event. Feedback and research of EMDR interventions demonstrate that people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to recover.

What is different about EMDR from other types of therapy?

EMDR therapy allows resolution and recovery to unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. For many clients, EMDR therapy can be completed in fewer sessions than other psychotherapies. EMDR aligns with trauma-sensitive approaches due to the fact that it does not require talking in detail about a distressing event. EMDR therapy allows the brain to resume its natural healing process. Individuals appreciate less homework and quicker relief by practicing calming tools and reprocessing events using specific EMDR techniques to resolve emotions and improve positive thinking.

History of EMDR

In 1987, Francine Shapiro, PhD discovered a connection between eye movements, decrease of negative thoughts and reprocessing emotions. In her book, Getting Past Your Past, you can read in detail of how she was walking in the park when she realized that eye movements appeared to decrease the negative emotion associated with her own distressing memories. The relief from emotions following eye movements, inspired her to explore the process further. Years later, more studies demonstrated the efficacy and supported the long-term positive effects of EMDR interventions.

How long will EMDR take? 

As with any therapy, the number of sessions required for EMDR varies from client to client. Client-therapist relationship will be an important part of the process. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal.  EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. EMDR can help clients move quickly through blocks, feelings of being "stuck," negative beliefs about self, and move into new ways of thinking and healing from emotional pain associated with disturbing experiences.

How Does it Work?

Review the "8 Phases of EMDR" page for details of what to expect in EMDR sessions.

The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health.  If the system is stuck or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering.  Once the block is removed, healing resumes.  Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes. Millions of people have been treated successfully with EMDR over the past 25 years.

EMDR therapy is an eight-phase treatment.  Eye movements (or other bilateral stimulation) are determined collaboratively by client and therapist. Once there is a chosen target (or memory), the therapist will follow a specific protocol using the bilateral stimulation technique chosen. This activates left-brain, right-brain and is believed to be what moves a person through the event and reduce the emotional distress. It is believed by a Harvard researcher to be connected with the biological mechanisms involved in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, internal associations arise and the clients begin to process the memory and intense feelings.

In successful EMDR therapy, the meaning of painful events is transformed on an emotional level.  For instance, a victim shifts from feeling fear and disgust to holding the firm belief that, “I lived through it, and I am resilient.” 

In EMDR therapy the client experiences accelerated intellectual and emotional processes. A typical outcome is that clients conclude EMDR therapy with a sense of empowerment. The harmful experiences are transformed and an individual makes new positive conclusions about themselves and others and their experiences. This transformation is attributed to reduction of emotional reactivity and also the improved cognitions one may believe about themselves.