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Brenda G. Forte, LCSW, CAS PSYCHOTHERAPY
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EMDR is a relatively new and powerful method of psychotherapy. It was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987 and, initially, used to treat victims of trauma. Since that time, scientific research has established EMDR as effective for the treatment of PTSD.  EMDR processes memories/events that have become “frozen in time” in the brain. The traumatic event seems to get locked in the nervous system with the original picture, sounds, thoughts physical sensations and feelings. These memories may feel as bad as they had the first time they were experienced.

While researchers are still not certain about specifics of what makes EMDR so successful, they believe that the "bilateral stimulation" has something to do with activating parts of the brain responsible for processing and integrating memories. The assumption is that what occurs in the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep is what occurs in EMDR. The general theory is that EMDR activates the individual’s own self-healing system.

The eye movements, taps, or sounds used in EMDR seem to activate parts of the brain (just as in dreaming) and allow the brain to process the negative experience that it was unable to at the time the trauma occurred. Along with the eye movements is an eight-step protocol, which connects the memory, negative belief, feelings, and body sensations.

In using EMDR you might experience a level of emotional distress and physical sensations during the processing. EMDR does not cause these sensations, but allows your body and brain to digest or “unfreeze” the old memory in its attempt to heal itself.

EMDR is a client-centered approach, and the client is always in control. 

Areas EMDR has been found to help are:

Visit EMDR.com to learn more.