EMDR Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. 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. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked 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. Treatment goal being to resolve impact of trauma, not to factually remember what occurred. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes.
Video Courtesy of EMDR International Association
Resources to learn about EMDR
What is EMDR? Learn the basics
What is an actual EMDR session like? Learn the 8 phases of treatment
Introductory video about EMDR
EMDR experts explain the benefits of EMDR
EMDR patients share their stories
An EMDR therapist shares her EMDR experience
Research in support of EMDR effectiveness:
Twenty-four randomized controlled trials support the positive effects of EMDR therapy in the treatment of emotional trauma and other adverse life experiences relevant to clinical practice.
Seven of 10 studies reported EMDR therapy to be more rapid and/or more effective than trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.
Twelve randomized studies of the eye movement component noted rapid decreases in negative emotions and/or vividness of disturbing images, with an additional 8 reporting a variety of other memory effects.
Numerous other evaluations document that EMDR therapy provides relief from a variety of somatic complaints.
Research and frequently asked questions about EMDR
Who stands to benefit from EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy helps children and adults of all ages. Therapists use EMDR therapy to address a wide range of challenges:
Anxiety, panic attacks, and phobias
Chronic Illness and medical issues
Depression and bipolar disorders
Dissociative disorders
Eating disorders
Grief and loss
Pain
Performance anxiety and Peak Performance
Personality disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma and stress-related issues
Recent Critical Incidents and Ongoing Traumatic Stress with EMDR PRECI
Sexual assault
Sleep disturbance
Substance abuse and addiction
Violence and abuse
The Experience of EMDR Therapy
After the therapist and client agree that EMDR Therapy is a good fit, the client will work through the eight phases of EMDR Therapy with their therapist. Attention will be given to a negative image, belief, emotion, and body sensation related to this event, and then to a positive belief that would indicate the issue was resolved. A typical EMDR Therapy session lasts from 60-90 minutes. EMDR Therapy is not complete until attention has been brought to the past memories that are contributing to the problem, the present situations that are disturbing, and what skills the client may need for the future. EMDR Therapy may be used within a standard talking therapy, as an adjunctive therapy with a separate therapist, or as a treatment all by itself. EMDR Therapy can be used for recent critical incidents and ongoing traumatic stress with EMDR PRECI. This is ideal for paraprofessionals.