Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is the most thoroughly researched method used in the treatment of trauma. In addition to treating PTSD, EMDR has also been successful in treating many other difficulties such as anxiety, panic, phobias, low self-esteem, grief, performance anxiety, sexual dysfunction, pain, and addictions.

EMDR suggests that psychological symptoms are often the result of unprocessed or poorly integrated memories of adverse life events.

The brain has a natural ability to process and integrate information, moving memories from a state of immediate distress into a more adaptive, integrated memory. When a person experiences trauma or significant distress, the brain's ability to process the information may be blocked or disrupted. This unprocessed memory may continue to be emotionally charged, leading to symptoms such as anxiety, panic, hypervigilance, flashbacks, avoidance behaviours and depression.

EMDR is a therapy which facilitates the adaptive processing of traumatic memories. By using bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements), EMDR therapy aids traumatic memory to be processed, and integrated into the person's broader memory network. This process helps reduce the emotional charge of traumatic memories, leading to healing and symptom relief.

In a processing session you may be asked to watch the therapist's finger moving backwards and forwards across your visual field for brief ‘sets’. Sometimes, other forms of bilateral stimulation may be used instead. Experiences during a session may include changes in thoughts, images and feelings. As processing progresses during a session, the memory tends to lose its painful intensity and simply becomes a neutral memory of an event in the past.

EMDR is a complete therapy. Eight distinct phases are used to guide treatment. Past memories are targeted, as well as triggers from the present and future challenges.