Cart 0
Eye Movement De-sensitization Re-processing
After successful treatment with EMDR therapy, affective distress is relieved, negative beliefs are reformulated, and physiological arousal is reduced. During EMDR therapy the client attends to emotionally disturbing material in brief sequential doses while simultaneously focusing on an external stimulus. Therapist directed lateral eye movements are the most used external stimulus but a variety of other stimuli including hand-tapping and audio stimulation are often used (Shapiro, 1991). Shapiro (1995, 2001).
EMDR therapy facilitates the accessing of the traumatic memory network, so that information processing is enhanced, with new associations forged between traumatic memory and more adaptive memories or information. These new associations result in complete information processing, new learning, elimination of emotional distress, and development of cognitive insights.
EMDR therapy uses a three pronged protocol: (1) the past events that have laid the groundwork for dysfunction are processed, forging new associative links with adaptive information; (2) the current circumstances that elicit distress are targeted, and internal and external triggers are desensitized; (3) imaginal templates of future events are incorporated, to assist the client in acquiring the skills needed for adaptive functioning. It is widely regarded as the best therapy for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma.
