EMDR

Eye Movement desensitization & reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is also useful in treating other psychiatric disorders, mental health problems, and somatic symptoms. It is based on an Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model that suggests some of the symptoms we have as a result of trauma are consequences of unstable coping and/or incomplete processing of disturbing or adverse life experiences. This instability impairs our ability to integrate traumatic experiences and prevents us from living our best life. The aim of EMDR is to treat psychological disorder, alleviate human suffering and to assist individuals to fulfill their potential for development, while minimizing risks of harm.

During an EMDR session bilateral stimulation (BLS) sets are done with the client while they recall their traumatic memory. BLS is simply a left to right back and forth motion. A more indepth description of BLS can be found here. Research on the neurobiology of attachment and trauma suggests EMDR is effective because it mimics the same process your brain is using during the dream stage of REM sleep (EMDRIA, 2019). During REM your eyes rapidly move back and forth. This is long thought to be our brains way of processing and organizing our experiences from when we were awake. EMDR is thought to be an accelerated, conscious version of REM sleep.

EMDR sessions can range from 60-90 minutes and are typically 6-12 sessions however some clients benefit from fewer sessions.