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 EMDR - or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing - is an integrative therapy which assists people in resolving symptoms that are challenging to handle on a daily basis. It can help an individual become more aware of and activate his or her own inner resources towards healing by integrating the mind, heart and body.
EMDR was discovered and developed by Francine Shapiro, a clinical psychologist and has been the subject of dozens of research studies since the 1980s. This research has demonstrated that EMDR can help reduce the amount of distress a person experiences after a traumatic event occurs. By “traumatic,” we mean anything from something very serious like childhood abuse to things less serious but none-the-less, intense, like a painful break up or performance anxiety.
The American Psychiatric Association has indicated that EMDR is effective for treating symptoms of acute and chronic stress disorders which can occur after a traumatic OR painful event. The research has been that positive!
EMDR is different from traditional talk therapy. While the two work well together, EMDR therapists, such as myself, use a specific structure which will guide you to focus on your emotions, your body, your thoughts, your beliefs and your memories. The use of visualization, meditation, mindfulness, free-association and imagination are also common parts of an EMDR session.
The most unique element of EMDR is what is known as ‘bilateral stimulation’. This is the process by which you follow a hand or light movement with your eyes, listen to alternating sounds through headphones, hold discs that create a sensation in your hands, receive gentle physical taps or some combination. This Bilateral Stimulation stimulates the left and ride side of the brain and allows the individual to draw on a combination of new insight and understanding. The bilateral stimulation basically assists the left and right brain in communication which has been interrupted because of life events that occurred.
How does EMDR work?
There is evidence that may support several theories behind the way EMDR works. One theory suggests that the brain stores different aspects of memory in different areas and that by using bilateral stimulation, both sides of the brain are engaged and interact in a way that all the information becomes more available. Others suggest that EMDR evokes a physiological response similar to REM sleep, a part of the sleep cycle where memories are associated and integrated.
Memory and brain research suggest that painful or traumatic experiences are stored in different parts of the brain from pleasant or neutral ones. Typically, if we’re troubled by something we are able to come to a healthy resolution. When we experience a major trauma (“big T”) or very painful event (“small t”) this process can be disrupted.
Because bits of memory are stored in different places, traumatic information gets ‘stuck’ in the brain and nervous system and is not fully processed. It remains in its original form ----- as if it is still the past ----- and as a result, information is sealed off from present awareness. This may explain why someone might still feel intensely troubled by a painful event which happened many years ago. Researchers believe that EMDR may be able to neurologically reconnect information related to the past, present and future and it is through this integration that healing occurs. The techniques of EMDR are believed to help people reprocess and integrate information at an accelerated speed.
There are a few other things to know --
* The Underlying assumption is that each of us has the capacity to access our own inner resources for health, healing and wisdom. EMDR can support you in this.
* The purpose of EMDR is to help clear blockages that prevent us from experiencing our inherent sense of wholeness, value and personal truth.
* EMDR will not remove anything that is useful or necessary or remove any memories.
* In order to most benefit from EMDR, it is important that you are in good general physical and psychiatric health, have social support in place, can tolerate emotions and are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
* Following EMDR, many people find that they continue processing and this leads to further insights. You may experience strong emotions, new memories or vivid dreams. You may feel tired or energized afterwards. The experience is very personal and each person responds differently.
* EMDR does not work for everyone and each person’s experience is unique. The best way to find out if EMDR is right for you is to speak to a trusted mental health professional with EMDR training and to honor your own experience.
For additional online resources, please visit:
The EMDR International Association www.emdria.org
The EMDR Institute www.emdr.com
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