Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy that targets past traumatic and disturbing events to help alleviate on-going suffering by using bilateral stimulation (BLS), which is believed to occur during the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycle. However, trauma can prevent this from happening.

With EMDR, bilateral stimulation is simulated while in an awake state. This can be accomplished by a variety of methods, including eye movements. EMDR is a form of therapy that can prompt the brain’s innate ability to unblock disturbances and promote healing from emotional discomfort, often much more rapidly than traditional talk therapy. EMDR is a comprehensive approach which works by reprocessing the past, desensitizing distressing present triggers, and creating visual templates for the client’s preferred future. 

Dr. Francine Shapiro, EMDR originator and developer, sums it up this way (2018), “When an event has been sufficiently processed, we remember it but do not experience the old emotions or sensations in the present. We are informed by our memories, not controlled by them” (p. 3). (Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. New York, NY: The Guilford Press)

This sounds great! What can EMDR be used for? 

EMDR can be effective with a variety of conditions such as:

I realize you may have questions about this form of therapy and I’m happy to answer them! Feel free to call or email me if you would like to learn more about EMDR. You can also visit http://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/ and https://www.emdria.org/ for more information. As a trained EMDR therapist, I’m here to assist you in processing the memories that still hurt.