As an EMDR-trained psychologist, people are always asking me to explain what EMDR is and how it works. EMDR stands for “Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing” and is the only treatment endorsed by the World Health Organization for the treatment of PTSD and trauma. It has been proven to work better than Prozac and CBT combined; and even though Prozac is seen as a popular antidepressant, EMDR has been proven to produce a greater reduction in depressive symptoms than Prozac.
What EMDR Isn’t
- Magic
- Hypnosis
- Talk therapy
- Shock therapy
What It Is
A type of treatment that helps recreate REM sleep (the phase of sleep that is psychologically restorative) by having you physically move your eyes from left to right. During that process, the EMDR therapist has you think about and/or visualize the specific event. The therapist does this using a variety of techniques and interventions. The physical recreation of the REM sleep eye movements paired with the thoughts and images of the event help the brain structures work together with the body to put the event/memories in the past.
“Because EMDR doesn’t require people to speak about the intolerable or explain to a therapist why they feel so upset, it allows them to stay fully focused on their internal experiences, with extraordinary results.” (The Body Keeps The Score pg. 253)
As a result, you are no longer having to respond to the past memories as though they are current truths in the present moment. Your body and mind quiet down and are able to put the memory in the past while stripping the memory of the intense emotions associated with it. When asked about the memory, it would feel the same as being asked what you ate for lunch yesterday. It would just be a fact about the past.
Other Uses For EMDR
- Eating disorders
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Chronic pain
- Weight loss
- Smoking cessation
- Performance enhancement (sports, public speaking)
For more information regarding these topics, visit www.emdria.org