What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or “EMDR”, is a highly research-supported type of integrative therapy which was initially designed to alleviate the effects of trauma.  It can be used on its own, or as an adjunct to other types of therapy. EMDR is an accelerated form of information processing.  When something traumatic happens to you, your brain and body may continue to hold onto the event in a manner that includes the original picture of the event, as well as the sounds, feelings, thoughts and/or sensations associated with it.  It may feel like the trauma is locked inside of you and can be triggered by a variety of circumstances, leaving you feeling anxious, vulnerable, scared, angry, etc.  You may also feel helpless sometimes due to your inability to control these reactions. EMDR, which was discovered by Dr. Francine Shapiro, primes the client to access the internal residual effects of the trauma in its various forms (i.e., imagery, sensations, thoughts, feelings) and then uses bilateral stimulation of the brain to help reprocess the trauma and move past it.  The bilateral stimulation happens through use of eye movements, auditory tones to each ear, hand taps/stimulation or a combination of these techniques. EMDR treatment is a collaborative process which occurs at a pace that feels comfortable to you, and only after teaching you strategies to calm yourself should the need for this arise. It can be effective even without any clear memories of the traumatic incident itself. In addition to trauma, EMDR has also proven effective with other symptoms, such as pain management, addictions, depression, anxiety, and grief/loss.