What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization
Reprocessing. EMDR is a therapeutic technique that is extremely effective
for the relief of psychological stress. EMDR assists with the relief of
anxiety; post-traumatic stress disorder; panic disorder; grief and bereavement
and any concern where one feels “stuck”.
According to the EMDRIA, EMDR is an evidence based
psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In addition, successful
outcomes are well documented in the literature for EMDR treatment of other
psychiatric disorders, mental health problems, and somatic symptoms. The model
on which EMDR is based, Adaptive Information Processing (AIP), posits that much
of psychopathology is due to the maladaptive encoding of and/or incomplete
processing of traumatic or disturbing adverse life experiences. This impairs
the client’s ability to integrate these experiences in an adaptive manner. The
eight phase, three pronged process of EMDR facilitates the resumption of normal
information processing and integration. This treatment approach, which targets
past experience, current triggers, and future potential challenges, results in
the alleviation of presenting symptoms, a decrease or elimination of distress
from the disturbing memory, improved view of the self, relief from bodily
disturbance, and resolution of present and future anticipated triggers.
As EMDR clinicians what we believe is that when a
person is very upset, their brain cannot process information in the same was
when they are not upset or distressed. We may become “stuck” in a place and
remembering a trauma may feel just as powerful as when we were experiencing
that trauma. Such traumas and memories have a lasting negative effect that
interferes with the way a person sees the world.
According to the EMDRIA, EMDR seems to have a direct effect on the way that the brain processes
information. Normal information processing is resumed, so following a successful
EMDR session, a person no longer relives the images, sounds, and feelings when
the event is brought to mind. You still remember what happened, but it is less
upsetting. Many types of therapy have similar goals. However, EMDR appears to
be similar to what occurs naturally during dreaming or REM (rapid eye movement)
sleep. Therefore, EMDR can be thought of as a physiologically based therapy
that helps a person see disturbing material in a new and less distressing way.
As EMDR clinicians, the benefits of EMDR can be seen
as an extremely beneficial and powerful. If you are interested in
learning more about EMDR please visit www.emdria.org.
