EMDR is a very specific therapy modality most often used to help treat symptoms related to experiences of trauma. It is an extremely structured therapy that helps people to focus briefly on traumatic memories or symptoms while participating in dual attention stimuli either through eye movements, tapping, or sounds. The use of both techniques together has been shown to reduce the vividness of the traumatic memories and reduce the emotions associated with them. Through the use of the dual attention stimuli, the individual’s normal healing abilities are activated and the brain/body can link more adaptive thinking/pathways to the pathways holding the psychological harm.
EMDR is guided by Adaptive Information Processing theory. This theory proposes that all humans have an adaptive information processing system within our central nervous system that is responsible for storing memories and that these networks then help to shape our perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours. Experiences of trauma disrupt the normal processing of experiences and results in the formation of unprocessed information that can become dysfunctionally stored in the memory networks. As a result, people can then experience distressing symptoms (i.e. flashbacks, nightmares, negative thought patterns and feelings) related to this maladaptively stored and unprocessed information.
EMDR works by re-processing these experiences and sensations in order to link them to the more adaptive and healthy networks (aka channels).
Developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the 1980’s it has been intensely researched and found to be highly effective in treating psychological difficulties resulting from traumatic events such as assaults, motor vehicle accidents, war trauma, torture, natural disasters, traumatic grief, sexual abuse, and childhood neglect. More recently it has started to be used to help with panic disorder, phobias, performance anxiety, self-esteem issues, and other anxiety-related disorders.
EMDR requires intensive training. EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) is a non-profit professional association dedicated to promoting and ensuring high training standards and ongoing supervision as they relate to the use of EMDR therapy.
More information about this therapy modality and its effectiveness can be found on their website www.emdria.org