Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

Because everyone is different and has individual needs and starting points for the grief counseling process, there are many recovery therapy methods used today. One very successful therapy is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

This process is particularly helpful in treating conditions such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic attacks, anxiety disorder and abuse issues. Elements from several different treatment approaches are included in EMDR therapy. The Department of Veteran Affairs and the US Department of Defense has placed EMDR in category A for strongly recommended treatment of trauma (PTSD).

It is not completely understood exactly how EMDR works, but when someone is extremely upset, the brain is unable to process information in a normal way. Bad memories can become frozen in time, causing such negative effects that they interfere with living a normal life. EMDR therapy seems to have a direct effect on allowing the brain to return to its normal functioning state and normal information processing can resume.

EMDR was developed in 1987 by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. Dr. Shapiro noted that disturbing thoughts suddenly disappeared after engaging in a particular type of eye movement and when deliberately retrieving these disturbing thoughts, they were no longer upsetting to her. Since Dr. Shapiro's discovery of this methodology, it has evolved into a multifaceted approach to treating a variety of problems.

In addition to grief and trauma recovery therapy, EMDR is effective for other conditions including, chronic pain relief, smoking cessation, dealing with addictions and performance enhancement.

The process of EMDR involves an 8 stage approach in which the trained therapist facilitating a type of eye movement by having the individual focus on a disturbing image while following the movement of the therapist's fingers across the field of vision.

This rapid eye movement seems to allow the negative information to process at an accelerated rate. The memories of the traumatic event change by fading or becoming distant and the power of the negative thoughts are diminished, thereby reducing anxiety, tension, pain and grief. These emotional and cognitive changes usually result in spontaneous behavioral and personal change which is imperative for recovery to take place.

Research shows that the effects of EMDR therapy remain stable over time.

EMDR makes the following assumptions about healing:

EMDR therapy uncovers hidden aspects of problems.

EMDR therapy gets you unstuck and allows a natural movement towards healing.

EMDR therapy generates a new perspective of your problem.

EMDR therapy allows you to go directly to you healing destination and eliminate
incorrect pathways.

EMDR therapy creates new pathways beyond the limitations of your previous route.

EMDR therapy accesses the natural healing abilities of your deeper self.

EMDR therapy enables your ability to let go.

EMDR therapy installs positive behaviors and allows you to connect to useful
resources within yourself.