What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful method of psychotherapy that has helped an estimated two million people of all ages relieve many types of psychological distress.
Why is it called EMDR?
In 1987, psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro observed that eye movements can desensitize disturbing thoughts, and under further scientific investigation, found that eye movements, under certain conditions, could also reveal hidden meanings of traumatic events — or, reprocess them — changing memories of fear and misery not merely into less fear and less misery, but into experiences from which we gain strength and wisdom.
In sum, Dr. Shapiro developed a method of using eye movements to not only desensitize, but also reprocess memories of our experiences, which is why she named it Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
The research was originally conducted solely with eye movements, but it has since been discovered that other left-right stimulation, such as alternating auditory tones or pulses on alternating hands, can have the same results. The name, however, has remained the same.
Can it help with trauma?
EMDR is recommended as an effective treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in the practice guidelines of various widely respected organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association, in 2004; the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense, in 2010; the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, in 2009; and other organizations worldwide, including in Britain, France, the Netherlands and Israel.
What else can EMDR help with?
Clinicians have reported success using EMDR in the treatment of many conditions, including:
- panic attacks
- complicated grief
- sexual and/or physical abuse
- disturbing memories
- eating disorders
- addictions
- performance anxiety
- stress reduction
- pain disorders
- phobias
- body dysmorphic disorders
- personality disorders
We are trained to do EMDR
EMDR training has two levels, called simply Level I and Level II. Both David and Meshel are trained Level II EMDR psychotherapists.
Links to more about EMDR
A brief article published in Scientific American has a partial description of EMDR.
The New York Times ran a lengthier and much more thorough piece, The Evidence on E.M.D.R., with a follow-up which continued and expanded the discussion, Expert Answers on E.M.D.R. Both include multiple links to research and resources.
A bibliography of current research can be found through EMDR International Association’s web site, www.emdria.org.
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