What is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms of emotional distress and trauma that occur after a disturbing life event.

When people are very upset, their brains do not process information in an adaptive way. A traumatic experience can remain frozen in the mind and can be re-triggered in daily life. Remembering the trauma may feel as bad as going through it the first time because the images, sounds, smells, and feelings are re-experienced. Such memories can cause extreme stress and discomfort that interfere with the way a person responds to people and the world around them.

EMDR positively impacts the way that the brain processes information. Normal information processing helps "unfreeze" a traumatic memory. Following a successful EMDR session, a person no longer re-lives the images, sounds, and feelings that are associated with a traumatic event. They will still have a memory of what happened, but it will be less upsetting.

Repeated studies show that EMDR is an effective, evidence-based practice. People often experience immediate results with EMDR, even after they have spent years trying to resolve specific issues in talk therapy. 

How Does EMDR Work?

Clients participate in EMDR by holding paddles and wearing headphones that vibrate and make quiet beeping noises. This is done while they process through traumatic memories. These tools create bi-lateral stimulation in the brain. Bi-lateral stimulation can have a calming effect and can help clients integrate information from their right and left brain hemispheres. Processing through difficult memories while using bi-lateral stimulation can lessen the effects of traumatic experiences because more positive brain associations can be made. Essentially, memories are stored in more adaptive brain networks when they are reprocessed with EMDR. This prevents clients from being easily re-triggered.

The therapist can explain and answer questions about EMDR in the session to ensure that the client has a clear understanding of the process. 

What Does EMDR Treat?

  • Trauma
  • Panic attacks
  • Complicated grief
  • Dissociative disorders
  • Disturbing memories
  • Phobias
  • Performance anxiety
  • Stress reduction
  • Attachment Issues
  • Addictions
  • Sexual and/or Physical abuse
  • Body Image Issues
  • & more...

 

Portions of the above content have been retrieved from EMDRIA, the EMDR International Association. Visit. www.emdria.com