EMDR:
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a new controversial
form of therapy. It was developed by Francine Shapiro Ph.D., in
1987. Dr. Shapiro was in a park and was thinking about some unpleasant
memories. She noticed that when she moved her eyes back and forth
that the intensity of the negative emotions of these unpleasant
memories seemed to dissipate. This incident was followed by intense
studies and in 1989, Dr. Shapiro reported that she was having success
using EMDR to treat trauma.
In
fact, Dr. Shapiro and many other therapists trained in using EMDR
state that only a few sessions of this form of treatment can do
what man months of traditional talk therapy can do if that. In fact,
some mental health clinicians do not feel that traditional talk
therapy assists with treating trauma.
So
what really is EMDR and how does it work? During EMDR sessions,
the therapist asks the client to think about a traumatic event and
at the same time, move their eyes rapidly - following the movement
of a pencil or a finger by the therapist. What is happening during
this process and why this seems to work is still unknown. However
there are some theories.
It
has been learned that painful or traumatic experiences are stored
in a different place in the brain than are pleasant or neutral ones.
Normally we work through these negative experiences by talking about
it, dreaming about it, etc. We are able to put it behind us.
However
many traumatic experiences seem to be "stuck" in the brain.
Even after years of talk therapy, the intensity of painful feelings
about a particular trauma could remain the same without change.
Some people feel that EMDR is able to "un-stick" these
experiences so that it reconnects with the healthy brain and then
is reprocessed and integrated at an accelerated speed.
The
theory is that the rapid eye movement in EMDR creates similar brain
activity to REM (rapid eye movement) that we experience during sleep.
This REM assists us in processing ideas and resolves conflicts.
We are able to work through things. We still retain the memory but
without the emotional pain and the feelings of smell, taste, etc.
of the event.
A
number of scientific studies have shown EMDR to be effective. The
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology published by Wilson,
Becker, and Tinker in December, 1995 studied 80 subjects with PTSD
using EMDR treatment. The study appeared to show that the subjects
improved significantly with this form of treatment and further study
showed that this improvement was seen for at least 15 months later.
Many
other similar studies of EMDR have been done showing that EMDR is
highly effective and the results are long lasting. I encourage you
to check out these studies at http://www.emdr.com/
where you will also be able to write or call and ask for therapists
trained in EMDR in your area.
EMDR
does not just treat trauma patients. Clinicians have noted success
with this treatment in these areas:
- Ptsd
- Panic
attacks
- Addictions
- Dissociative
disorders
- Disturbing
memories
- Anxiety
disorders
- Phobias
- Performance
anxiety
- Stress
reduction
- Complicated
grief
- Sexual
and/or physical abuse
