Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing is a psychotherapy treatment that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories.
EMDR therapy facilitates the accessing and processing of traumatic memories and other adverse life experiences to bring these to an adaptive resolution.
When a person experiences psychological trauma or highly stressful events, they are not always able to process the relevant information (i.e. thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations). As a result, they can end up getting “stuck” inside of them and can resurface later on, as if the person was still reliving the traumatic or stressful event.
EMDR is a structured and goal-oriented therapy that is designed to help people process and resolve traumatic memories, and to reduce the negative effects of trauma on their current functioning. EMDR aims to ‘process’ negative experiences or events which can subsequently improve emotional well-being and help to significantly reduce, but more often eliminate distressing symptoms and bodily sensations associated with the trauma.
After one or more EMDR sessions, typically, a person stops reporting PTSD symptoms, and the memories associated with the traumatic event stop being so negatively emotionally charged. Emotions become less overwhelming and bodily sensations become less intense.
What problems does EMDR effectively help?
EMDR can particularly help people who experience current emotional distress as a result of past traumatic life events or experiences.
EMDR has been found to be an effective treatment for a wide range of problems related to trauma, including:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): EMDR has been found to be an effective treatment for PTSD, and is often recommended as a first-line treatment by guidelines developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Trauma: EMDR has been found to be effective in the treatment of trauma caused by a wide range of events, such as accidents, natural disasters, sexual assault, and physical abuse.
Anxiety: EMDR has been found to be an effective treatment for anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder.
Depression: EMDR has been found to be an effective treatment for depression, and may be particularly useful for people who have not responded to other forms of treatment.
Chronic pain: EMDR has been found to be an effective treatment for chronic pain, and may be particularly useful for people who have experienced trauma or abuse.
What does an EMDR therapy typically do in a session?
During an EMDR therapy session, the therapist may use a variety of techniques to help the client process and integrate traumatic memories, including:
Bilateral stimulation: The therapist uses eye movements or tapping to stimulate both sides of the brain, which is believed to help the brain process and integrate traumatic memories.
Memory recall: The therapist helps the client to remember and describe the details of the traumatic event, including the thoughts, feelings, and sensations they experienced at the time.
Processing: The therapist helps the client to focus on the traumatic memory while receiving bilateral stimulation, with the goal of reducing the intensity of the negative emotions and physical symptoms associated with the trauma.
Closure: The therapist helps the client to bring the processing of the traumatic memory to a close, and to develop coping strategies for managing any remaining distress.
Evidence based practice
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of mental mental health problems, particularly trauma.
A substantial amount of research shows that adverse life experiences may be the basis for a wide range of psychological and physiologic symptoms. EMDR therapy research has demonstrated that processing memories of such adverse experiences results in the rapid reduction of negative emotions, beliefs, and physical sensations.
In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) has also acknowledged EMDR as being an effective treatment approach to psychological trauma and trauma-related disorders.
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