WHAT IS EMDR?
EMDR ( eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is a technique for developing mindful self observation and reprocessing specific traumatic material that may be ‘stuck’ in the brain’s neural networks.
EMDR can be a helpful treatment approach for:
- Trauma
- Depression
- Substance Abuse
- Anxiety and Panic
- Performance anxiety and a variety of other problems
Developed by Francine Shapiro, PhD, EMDR was originally discovered and used with Vietnam veterans who were struggling with uncontrolled “flashbacks” and other Post Traumatic symptoms that made their lives unworkable. Dr. Shapiro’s original studies demonstrated that by focusing on the thoughts, emotions and body sensations that accompany traumatic memory, and by incorporating the simple process of bilateral eye movement, war veterans were able to reprocess the traumatic material. Her follow up studies demonstrated long-lasting success in reducing the negative thoughts and emotions associated with the trauma.
Dr. Shapiro began training licensed psychotherapists who discovered that in addition to using eye movements, bilateral stimulation could be achieved by using special audio tapes with alternating tones and by simply alternating right/left touch on the knees, hands or shoulders.
EMDR clearly demonstrates that all of us possess healing energy.
The EMDR clinician is trained to assist clients in identifying all types of ‘stuck’ traumatic material. These may include big traumatic events (such as involvement in a natural disaster, devastating accident, sexual and physical assault) and all types of smaller traumas (such as being embarrassed in your school play as a child). Client and clinician work together to specifically identify the traumas that continue to be problematic (i.e. continue to produce a high distress level when the client focuses on them). Client and clinician then use the type of bilateral stimulation the client prefers to ‘zoom in’ on the traumatic material. The EMDR practitioner is trained to "get out of the way" and trust the client’s natural ability to heal. Client and clinician continue to focus on the traumatic material until the client reports that the distress has been cleared or lifted.
I have advanced training in EMDR and I have been using this method since 1996.
I am a member of the EMDR International Association
Please call or email with any questions you may have.
Phone: 828-215-4234 email: [email protected]
Phone: 828-215-4234 email: [email protected]