What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that helps heal the emotional distress from traumatic life experiences. It is based on the Adaptive Information Processing Model (AIP) which views pathology as being the result of maladaptive, unprocessed memories. Such unprocessed, disturbing memories carry a high emotional charge that, when triggered, create the symptoms of PTSD and/or other disorders. In contrast, memories that have been adequately processed, even if they were distressing at the time of the occurrence, can be remembered without any emotional disturbance. EMDR therapy treats past disturbing memories, present triggers, and prepares the person to effectively manage similar situations in the future.
EMDR can help process distressing memories related to a myriad of situations including early life abuse or neglect, bullying, domestic violence, grief/loss, and abandonment.
“Trauma comes back as a reaction, not a memory.”
-Bessel van der Kolk, Author of The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
EMDR therapy is used for adults to treat mental health issues including:
- PTSD
- Anxiety and panic disorder
- Phobias
- Social anxiety
- Depression
- Aggression/anger issues
- Low self-esteem
- Stress management
- Bereavement
- Dissociation
Client who have experienced EMDR Therapy have reported:
- Freedom from debilitating symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD
- Greater sense of inner peace
- Clearer perspective on life
- Increased sense of confidence and self-trust
- Greater experience of connection and satisfaction in their relationships
- Decrease in taking other people’s feelings and actions personally
- Lowered cravings associated with addictive behavior
Studies on EMDR
More than 30 positive controlled outcome studies have been done on EMDR therapy over the past 20 years, and today it is recognized as an effective form of treatment for trauma and other disturbing experiences by organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization and the Department of Defense.
Research studies using EMDR therapy showed:
- 84%-90% of single-trauma victims no longer have post-traumatic stress disorder after only three 90-minute sessions.
- 100% of single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims no longer were diagnosed with PTSD after only six 50-minute sessions (HMO Kaiser Permanente study)
- 77% of combat veterans were free of PTSD in 12 sessions.
If you would like to learn more about EMDR and how it might help you, your child, or your teen, please contact me for a free 20-minute consultation.
For more information about EMDR:
https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/
Getting Past your Past, by Francine Shapiro