EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a therapy method for treating trauma and other sources of anxiety and distress. It was developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro. She found that when she moved her eyes rapidly back and forth, the distressing events she had been recalling lost their emotional charge. Subsequent research into this intriguing discovery has shown that other sensory modalities, when done bilaterally, can be just as effective, modalities such as bilateral taps on the body or auditory tones from headphones.
Over the years, many variations of EMDR have been developed, such as the R-TEP protocol for recent traumatic events, a number of positive resource protocols, and a newer EMDR variation called the Flash Technique. All use bilateral stimulation. Despite hundreds of research studies, it is still not precisely clear why bilateral stimulation works so efficiently. Is it the divided attention required, the stimulation of both brain hemispheres, the focus on signals from the body, or the counteraction by a relaxation response? I have been doing EMDR since 1994 and I am still not sure. But EMDR certainly works much faster than just talking about a distressing event.
Click here to see a live example of the Flash Technique. It was developed by Dr. Phil Manfield, an EMDR consultant in Oakland, CA. Flash adds rapid eye blinks to alternating knee taps. There are many more Flash Technique videos you can watch on YouTube.
In the video clip below, Bessel van der Kolk, MD describes three changes in brain functioning following trauma. Bessel is one of the world's leading researchers in trauma treatment.
My particular interest is the application of EMDR to positive psychology, empowerment, and confidence building. This is a newer direction in the field and quite an exciting one. I have developed a modified EMDR protocol called Put Your Best Foot Forward, which helps people get in touch with overlooked resources, forgotten strengths, and powerful moments that were registered in the subconscious. These personal assets are then used to reprocess some area of chronic difficulty. It is a very positive therapy that, at minimum, gives people a tool to use and may also recalibrate a range of connected difficulties.
To search for an EMDR therapist in your area, visit any of the following sites:
