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What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy was developed in the late 1980’s by Francine Sharpio. While working on her dissertation, Dr. Sharpio, by chance, found that when she brought up a disturbing image from her past, moving her eyes back and forth relieved some of the intensity of the disturbing memory. Dr. Sharpio began to try this on her friends and came to the same conclusion, that when a distressing memory is recalled while utilizing this bilateral eye movement, the disturbance within the memory lessened. Soon, she began to use this technique on her clients, and found the same results of a decrease in distress related to the past memory. Since then, EMDR has been a widely studied and utilized form of treatment for those struggling with PTSD and other mental health diagnoses.
How does EMDR help?
While the neurobiology of how this therapy works is unclear, it is understood that the bilateral stimulation initiated through eye movement is effective for reprocessing, and consequently diminishing the severity of a traumatic memory. EMDR seems to be similar to Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, and is thought to have a similar type of neurological impact on the brain. When people experience trauma, the body reacts with the perception of danger. Some people become frozen with fear in response to a life threatening or perceived life threatening event. The freezing is what is thought to cause PTSD, because the unprocessed energy is absorbed in the body. EMDR helps to reprocess the event through the cognition, emotions, and bodily sensations associated with the memory.
What does EMDR help with?
EMDR is well known for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as other adverse childhood and adult experiences. This therapy is not solely for the use of treatment of PTSD. When people have been in therapy for years without success of meeting their goals, it is possible that there is something that is being missed, because of a blocked memory.
EMDR is effective in treatment for:
PTSD
Acute Stress Disorder
Depression
Anxiety
Adverse Experiences/memories
Dissociative Disorders
& More
What does EMDR look like?
If you ask people who have tried EMDR they will tell you it looks silly. Essentially, there is bilateral stimulation involving the eyes, or in laymen's terms, you follow a therapists fingers while bringing up a memory. Although the conventional method of EMDR is waving one's finger's in another's face, there are other forms of bilateral stimulation. Other forms include tactile stimulation, or auditory stimulation for people who may have vision problems or prefer another method.
There are eight stages of EMDR, and when we talk about EMDR, we are referring to the fourth stage of the process. It is important to not expect to jump into the fourth stage on the first session. While there may be an urgency to begin this therapy, so that a person can feel better, it is important that the procedures are followed for the best possible outcomes.
Why choose EMDR?
After successful processing using EMDR the person who has experienced trauma may no longer experience distress in the form images, sensations, thoughts or emotions when the image of the memory is brought up. Although the memory is still readily available to the person, the emotional disturbance and physical impact is lessened, or absent. EMDR integrates the sensations, images, thoughts and emotions that are associated with the memory, in a way that the body is able to reprocess as neutral when the memory is recalled.
Davidson Family Therapy is now offering EMDR in the Davidson, NC area!
EMDR is helping millions of people overcome their problems. Click here to set up your EMDR session today!