EMDR
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Even the creator, Francine Shapiro, recognized that the name is probably not the best.
EMDR is a technique that uses bi-lateral stimulation to change the way a disturbing event is remembered so that it may have less intensity and upset upon remembering. That is, the upsetting or traumatic event can be recalled without a subsequent adverse reaction in thoughts, emotions or the body. Bi-lateral stimulation is used, which means there is alternating, left to right, eye movements, knee tapping, hand buzzers or sound in the ears. There are options in how the bi-lateral stimulation occurs in therapy and it's not as intrusive as it may sound here.
EMDR allows a person to work through a channel of associations- which may include thoughts, images, emotions or feelings in the body- to eventually end up where the upsetting event can be less intense and more integrated
EMDR does not 'erase' memories or cause amnesia. It simply works to remove the intensity of the emotion associated with an event or incident. When re-processing is complete, the event is recalled with an feeling of, "That was then and this is now. It happened, but it's over", instead of a sense of intense emotions and a barrage of negative self-talk and regret that most often accompanies remembering a disturbing event or time.
EMDR is well researched and evidence again and again points to it's effectiveness in terms of client self-report that things feel better even long after treatment is complete. Some criticism against EMDR is that the means by which it works or the WHY it works are not as well understood. That's true.
EMDR is not everyone. There are many ways to support change for a person and EMDR is one of them. If you are interested, feel free to ask or I might suggest it as the next step for our work together. Like all therapeutic techniques, if it isn't for you, then we try other things. You can find a lot of information about EMDR on the web. I also have articles I can send you if you're interested.
Thanks for reading.
Warmly,
Heather.
EMDR is a technique that uses bi-lateral stimulation to change the way a disturbing event is remembered so that it may have less intensity and upset upon remembering. That is, the upsetting or traumatic event can be recalled without a subsequent adverse reaction in thoughts, emotions or the body. Bi-lateral stimulation is used, which means there is alternating, left to right, eye movements, knee tapping, hand buzzers or sound in the ears. There are options in how the bi-lateral stimulation occurs in therapy and it's not as intrusive as it may sound here.
EMDR allows a person to work through a channel of associations- which may include thoughts, images, emotions or feelings in the body- to eventually end up where the upsetting event can be less intense and more integrated
EMDR does not 'erase' memories or cause amnesia. It simply works to remove the intensity of the emotion associated with an event or incident. When re-processing is complete, the event is recalled with an feeling of, "That was then and this is now. It happened, but it's over", instead of a sense of intense emotions and a barrage of negative self-talk and regret that most often accompanies remembering a disturbing event or time.
EMDR is well researched and evidence again and again points to it's effectiveness in terms of client self-report that things feel better even long after treatment is complete. Some criticism against EMDR is that the means by which it works or the WHY it works are not as well understood. That's true.
EMDR is not everyone. There are many ways to support change for a person and EMDR is one of them. If you are interested, feel free to ask or I might suggest it as the next step for our work together. Like all therapeutic techniques, if it isn't for you, then we try other things. You can find a lot of information about EMDR on the web. I also have articles I can send you if you're interested.
Thanks for reading.
Warmly,
Heather.