EMDR Therapy

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) is a powerful and effective therapy for the treatment of trauma, developed by Francine Shapiro, PhD.

When a person experiences a disturbing event, their brain cannot process information as it normally does. The event seems to get stuck in the body and remembering the trauma may feel as bad as it did the first time.

EMDR therapy incorporates eye movements or other bilateral stimulation into a comprehensive treatment approach that has been shown to “light up” the neural networks in the brain that help with information processing. After a successful EMDR session, a person no longer relives the upsetting event, the information trapped in the mind and body is released, as are the disturbing images and body sensations, debilitating emotions, and restrictive beliefs.

EMDR has been extensively researched as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and is considered to be an evidence-based therapy. More than 20 controlled studies have investigated the effects of EMDR. These studies have consistently found that EMDR effectively decreases and often eliminates the symptoms of PTSD and the associated symptoms of anxiety and depression.

(Text source: EMDR International Association)