Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
What Is EMDR Therapy?
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a heavily researched and empirically supported therapy proven to help people recover from trauma and painful life experiences by improving the psychological affliction of traumatic memories. Its treatment focuses on the memory of the disturbing events, including negative thoughts, images, beliefs, emotions, and body sensations linked to the distressing event, to help process and change memories. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) highlights the positive brain responses associated with EMDR therapy— improving symptoms, rebuilding debilitating memories, and forming new positive attitudes and behaviors.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR therapy is different from talk therapy because it does not involve detailed descriptions of the event. Instead, EMDR treatment stimulates critical aspects of the traumatic memory by incorporating eye movements that allow insights, emotions, and physical sensations to emerge. After working with you to validate positive beliefs, the EMDR therapist integrates the positive effects into the memory network. At the same time, you are concentrating and processing any residual sensations from the distressing events.
