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What is EMDR? |
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of "eye movement therapy" which is intended to treat anxiety, stress, and trauma. The approach was developed by Francine Shapiro to resolve symptoms resulting from exposure to a traumatic or distressing even. Clinical trials have demonstrated EMDR's efficacy in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In some studies it has been shown to be equivalent to cognitive behavioural and exposure therapies, and more effective than some alternative treatments. Although some clinicians may use EMDR for various problems, its research support is primarily for disorders stemming from distressing life experiences. According to Shapiro's theory, when a traumatic or distressing experience occurs, it may overwhelm usual ways of coping and be inadequately processed; it is then dysfunctionally stored in an isolated memory network. When this memory network is activated, the individual may re-experience aspects of the original event, often resulting in inappropriate overreactions. This explains why people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic incident may have recurring sensory flashbacks, thoughts, beliefs, or dreams. An unprocessed incident can retain high levels of intensity, even though many years may have passed. EMDR uses a structured eight-phase approach and addresses the past, present, and future aspects of the dysfunctionally stored memory. During the processing phases of EMDR, the client attends to the disturbing memory in multiple brief sets of about 15-30 seconds, while simultaneously focusing on the dual attention stimulus introduced by the therapist. Following each set of such dual attention, the client is asked what associative information was elicited during the procedure. This new material usually becomes the focus of the next set. This process of alternating dual attention and personal association is repeated many times during the session, modifying the client's reaction to the underlying distress/traumatic event until it is finally dissipated. EMDR works directly with memory networks and enhances information processing by forging associations between the distressing memory and more adaptive information contained in other memory networks. It is thought that the distressing memory is transformed when new connections are forged with more positive and realistic information. This results in a transformation of the emotional, sensory, and cognitive components of the memory so that, when it is accessed, the individual is no longer distressed. Instead he/she recalls the incident with a new perspective, new insight, resolution of the cognitive distortions, elimination of emotional distress, and relief of related physiological arousal. When the distressing or traumatic event is an isolated incident, the symptoms can often be cleared with one to three EMDR sessions. But when multiple traumatic events contribute to a health problem - such as physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, parental neglect, severe illness, accident, injury, or health-related trauma that result in chronic impairment to health and well-being - the time to heal may be longer. |