EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a scientifically evidenced NHS approved psychotherapy which continues to be extensively researched.  It is an effective psychotherapy method, proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders. EMDR is also effective in helping people with complex trauma.

• EMDR can be helpful in treating a range of anxiety disorders, phobias and emotional and attachment-based difficulties. 

• EMDR therapy does not require talking in detail about the distressing issue or completing homework between sessions. EMDR therapy focuses on changing the emotions, thoughts, or behaviours resulting from the distressing issue, allowing the brain to resume its natural healing process.

• EMDR therapy is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain. For many people , EMDR therapy can be completed in fewer sessions than other psychotherapies.

Our brains have a natural way of recovering from traumatic memories and events.

EMDR involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyses and controls behaviour and emotion). Whilst traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, they may not be processed without help.

EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, freeze or appease  response from the original event is resolved, this is done through the adaptive information processing part of the brain. EMDR works with this natural process to aid healing.

This takes place through using bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation (BLS) is the stimulation of both sides of the brain. In EMDR therapy we use this method to assist a person to process traumatic memories, by processing fears or worries of future problems. BLS is used to activate or ‘awaken’ the whole brain, similar to the function of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep patterns. Bilateral stimulation is believed to facilitate the process of the re-filing of memories into a more efficient and useful place in the brain and body. Science suggests that BLS, in particular left to right, or vertical to horizontal eye movements, is beneficial to enable integration and healing, by tapping into the working memory and by communicating and integrating both hemispheres of the brain. Bilateral stimulation can be carried out by the use of eye movements, tapping or integrating sounds.

If you would like further information about EMDR if you think it is right for you then please explore the EDMR Association and EDMR Europe.