EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

I have studied and practiced EMDR since early in 2005, including attachment protocols and interventions. EMDR is a remarkable psychotherapy treatment enabling healing from trauma and the emotional symptoms which result. There have been repeated studies that show the accelerated benefits of utilizing EMDR to target, access and process traumatic memories. The idea of processing trauma originated with this therapy. It involves slow sequential focusing on internal and external foci with therapist directed lateral eye movements. Other cross lateral stimulus are used as well: tapping, light boards, and audio. EMDR facilitates access to traumatic memory brain networks - does a kind of digestion of trauma as well as forge new associations and solutions not available during traumatic events. A Harvard researcher believes that the connection between biological mechanism in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, internal associations arise and people begin to process the memory and disturbing feelings In successful EMDR therapy, the meaning of painful events is transformed on an emotional level.

Previously most psychotherapy treatments were assumed to take years to make a difference, and the severe emotional pain required a long time to heal. EMDR showed that the mind/body/emotions could be healed with access to the how the brain stores and processes these experiences. "There are more than 30 studies, some of which showed 84%-90% of single-trauma victims no longer qualify as having post traumatic stress disorder. Another study, funded by the HMO Kaiser Permanente, found that 100% of the single-trauma victims and 77% of multiple trauma victims no longer were diagnosed with PTSD after therapy.” - EMDR website

EMDR was unique in that we began to have access to how trauma is stored in our brains. We could utilize Functional Magnetic Resonance Imagery (F-MRI) to view the isolated neural bundles in peoples brains, target them - see them light up - and use bilateral stimulation with the EMDR protocols and actually rewire our brains. How cool is that? The processing seems to empower clients to have their own conclusions and build their own resources as an effect of loosening the hold of the trauma's influence. Client's natural ability to create and organize their lives in their own unique way emerges.

I still utilize EMDR when the occasion arises that this is the best modality.