Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
What is Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing Therapy, or EMDR?
EMDR was developed by psychologist Dr Francine Shapiro in the 1980s.
It was initially used to treat people with conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – an anxiety disorder that can arise after people have experienced a traumatic event.
Dr Shapiro noticed that when people experiencing distress did a rhythmic pattern of eye-movements, it reduced the intensity of distress.
She then tried this informally with clients, developed a treatment protocol, and completed a rigorous scientific study of the approach.
It is now considered an evidence-based approach to PTSD, alongside Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
What conditions can be treated with EMDR?
Our experienced EMDR practitioners use this practical, scientifically proven therapy to assist people with PTSD and other trauma based disorders to process difficult memories.
EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy used to treat a range of psychological problems. It is based on the idea that persistent problems are often caused by distressing memories that haven’t been processed effectively.
These memories remain “stuck” and continue to have an unhelpful influence on a person’s emotions, behaviours and beliefs.
Although EMDR was developed to treat PTSD, emerging evidence suggests it can be effective with a range of other psychological problems, including depression and anxiety.
While PTSD involves being exposed to actual or threatened harm or death, other painful but more subtle experiences can also lead to persistent psychological problems. For example, experiences of bullying, humiliation, shame and vulnerability can all contribute to the development of insecurities that lead to and maintain anxiety, low mood and emotional dysregulation.
When describing persistent problems, people often say things like “I know it’s not true, but I can’t help feeling like a failure”.
EMDR can be adapted to target and reprocess memories of experiences that led to these feelings.
Why do we practice EMDR at Peter Walker & Associates?
EMDR is an evidence-based therapy which aligns with the approach to all our work in the practice.
EMDR differs from exposure-based approaches in that it doesn’t need you to describe your trauma in detail. Nor does it direct your attention to any particular aspect of the trauma.
Rather, it encourages you to experience memories that occur spontaneously, such as images, thoughts and physical sensations, while doing the eye movements.
Independent research and our own experiences with clients have produced many cases of people who have engaged in EMDR therapy and been able to move on from difficult experiences to live a more fulfilling life.
How our clinicians use EMDR for treatment
EMDR treatment targets “stuck” memories so they can be processed fully, thereby reducing their influence.
EMDR therapy involves recalling a distressing memory and then repeating movements (such as a rhythmic left to right pattern) with both eyes. Treatment usually involves 6 to 12 sessions, once or twice a week, with each session lasting 60 to 90 minutes.
One compelling theory is that doing the two tasks at the same time (recalling a memory and moving both eyes) taxes your memory. As a result, the vividness and emotion of the distressing memory is reduced.
Once the distress associated with the memory has lessened, it becomes easier to think differently about the experience. It can then be integrated into your experience in a way that allows you to feel less powerless or more worthwhile.