EMDR Therapy is a therapeutic technique that is used to treat a wide range of mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This method can also be beneficial for a variety of other conditions, such as depression and anxiety.
Developed in 1987 by psychologist Francine Shapiro, EMDR is a psychological therapy that involves moving the client’s eyes back and forth while listening to a therapist’s instructions. It has been proven to be effective in reducing negative thoughts and emotions and is now being used by a variety of mental health professionals worldwide.
Many people find EMDR to be helpful in alleviating symptoms of PTSD and other mental health disorders. The underlying theory is that these issues are caused by unprocessed memories, which contain the elements of the traumatic event such as emotions, thoughts and physical sensations. When these memories are triggered, the patient experiences a range of negative symptoms, including flashbacks and anxiety.
The goal of EMDR is to change the way that these memories are stored in the brain. This is done by using grounding exercises, visualization and resource building. In addition to these methods, eye movement is often used during the process to help with memory reprocessing.
Assessment and Desensitization
During the first phase of the treatment, the therapist helps the client to identify and process distressing memories that they are currently holding. In addition to this, they will assist the client with identifying and exploring any negative beliefs that they have about themselves. This step is crucial as it allows the therapist to determine what areas of the memory are most likely to need to be reprocessed in order for the treatment to be successful.
Once the client and therapist have established a plan for treatment, they begin to meet weekly or biweekly to work on their sessions. This includes an initial session where the therapist assesses the level of emotional and cognitive distress that the client is experiencing and any somatic distress as well.
This is an important part of the process as it allows the therapist to assess whether or not EMDR is appropriate for the client. If the therapist does not feel that this is the right method of treatment for the EMDR client, they will be able to suggest another option.
A variety of therapists have been trained in EMDR, but it is important to make sure that you choose a qualified EMDR practitioner who has extensive training in this type of therapy. This is because it can be a very powerful form of therapy and can have serious effects on the brain.
EMDR is also an effective method for treating children suffering from traumatic events. For example, a study found that children who experienced a traumatic accident at school improved their social skills when treated with EMDR.
EMDR is also effective in the treatment of trauma-related behavioral and emotional disorders such as phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It can also be useful in the treatment of sexual abuse and rape, as well as in the prevention of self-harm.