Eye Movement Desensitization
and Reprocessing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured psychotherapy approach with ample evidence supporting its use for people with post-traumatic stress disorder and serious trauma.
While focusing on a distressing memory, a therapist will guide you in noticing associated thoughts, feelings and body sensations. This will happen in conjunction with some form of bilateral stimulation – a technique that involves presenting a stimulus to both sides of the body in a rhythmic left-right pattern. You may be guided to move your eyes from right to left or use tapping or sound. Bilateral stimulation helps your brain reprocess the memory, allowing you to see it in a new way and reduce its emotional impact.
How EMDR Works
EMDR therapists start by building a strong relationship with you, helping you feel comfortable and creating a place where you can learn and practice ways to manage trauma symptoms. Going at your pace, sessions will involve your therapist asking you to notice any associated thoughts, feelings, or bodily sensations associated with the traumatic experiences, This process is incremental and done with compassion and support until PTSD symptoms are in remission.
At CEBP, we do not believe EMDR is the best approach for everyone with trauma. Other modalities like CBT and insight-oriented therapy can also be enormously helpful. However, EMDR may be the best option if other methods haven’t worked or as an adjunctive treatment to other types of psychotherapy.