Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
A Little Background
In 1987, American psychologist Francine Shapiro, PhD was walking through a park running through memories of past traumatic events. She noticed that moving her eyes from side to side diminished her distress and left her in a more positive state of mind. It was purely a chance discovery, but one which has been so well-researched over the past 25 years that it is now an empirically validated intervention in the treatment of trauma. Acting on her subsequent assumptions that eye movements had a desensitizing effect, Shapiro began testing her theory in controlled studies with Vietnam veterans. Her findings showed that EMDR resulted in the decrease in of distress and significant increases in confidence in a positive belief.
How It Works
When memories are stuck or fragmented in the mind, negative beliefs can take root and fester. If you can process those fragmented images and beliefs, the brain is able to begin putting together more adaptive beliefs, which will reduce negative symptoms and lead to greater wholeness of body and mind. This is called the Adaptive Information Processing Model, and it's what EMDR is built on. By combining eye movement with processing, the brain can use the knowledge and wisdom you have gained to adapt the information to a more useful belief system.
Let’s Look At An Example
You might attend counseling to address some form of sexual abuse. You may come into the process believing that you have no power or control resulting from those rights having been stripped from you at the time of the abuse. Over time, that negative belief has globalized, creeping into all other areas of your life. Even though somewhere deep within the recesses of your brain you may believe you still have some measure of power and control, your body might not agree, and you may experience flashbacks and nightmares or fear and dissociation when you attempt to engage in sexual activity now, even if it's within the context of a safe and loving relationship.
By undertaking EMDR processing, you will be able to desensitize those distressing reactions and reprocess your negative beliefs into more adaptive ones like, "I can control what I can." Controlling what you can might look like choosing healthy relationships, setting boundaries with a partner, or practicing better self-care.
Legal Notice
Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only. This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your counselor or other mental healthcare provider. Do not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a mental health disorder. Do not disregard professional advice or delay in seeking professional advice because of something you have read on this website.