EMDR

What is EMDR Therapy?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in 1991, is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach originally developed to treat trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

EMDR is now widely recognized as an effective treatment for PTSD, but it can also be helpful for individuals experiencing anxiety, panic, distressing memories, negative beliefs about themselves, and the lasting effects of overwhelming or difficult experiences (to name a few).

EMDR is based on the understanding that when experiences are too overwhelming for the nervous system to fully process, aspects of the experience may remain stored in a way that continues to feel emotionally or physically present. During EMDR therapy, clients are supported in revisiting aspects of a distressing experience while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, alternating sounds, or gentle taps. This process can support the brain in reprocessing the experience so that the memory becomes less emotionally and physically distressing.

Importantly, EMDR is not about erasing memories or forgetting what happened. Rather, the goal is to help the brain and nervous system develop a more adaptive understanding of the experience. Over time, the memory can become something that belongs in the past rather than something that continues to feel as though it is happening in the present.

Clients may experience a reduction in emotional distress, physiological activation, intrusive memories, avoidance, and negative self-beliefs, while developing a greater sense of safety, choice, and self-compassion.