 |
 |
 |
|
||
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
What is it? Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a fairly new non-traditional therapy which has helped millions of people alleviate stress associated with trauma memories. Where traditional therapies often take years to do this, EMDR takes only a few sessions.
Where did it come from? In 1987 Francine Shapiro, accidentally discovered that eye movements appeared to decrease the negative emotion associated with her own troubling memories. In experimenting with her clients she developed a standard procedure which proved very affective. Controlled studies continue to prove the therapy’s usefulness with a variety of emotional issues.
What is trauma? Trauma occurs when we experience a threat to our life or our self-preservation. Rape, sexual abuse, assault, military combat, torture, life-threatening accidents or illnesses are a few examples. Observing a loved one in a life threatening experience can also produce trauma.
Tramatic events are so disturbing that our minds are not able to process them normally. Often these memories get stuck, or “paused” in an unprocessed state and flash on and off when triggered. The result is what we call “flashbacks” or recurring pictures, sounds, smells, thoughts, or feelings, which occurred during the original trauma experience. Clients often say, “I felt like it was happening all over again.” Flashbacks are frightening and put us in a helpless state of mind, keeping us from moving forward in our lives.
How does EMDR work? It is believed that EMDR enables our brain to reprocess these flashbacks by releasing the “pause button” allowing the memory to be desensitized and reprocessed (filed away appropriately.) If successful we will remember the event as we remember other past events but without re-experiencing the horror.
How is it done? The therapist helps the client simulate rapid eye movement (REM), similar to that which occurs naturally during REM sleep. Simply, the client is asked to move his/her eyes right and left as the therapist guides the thought process. The method involves a series of steps to target the issue to be worked on and a scaling process to measure effectiveness.
Other methods that can be used for this bi-lateral stimulation include holding hand pulsers, using right and left ear tones, or knee taps. After a processing series, the client rates the amount of disturbance still present. This is repeated until the trigger no longer produces a disturbance in the body when brought to mind or until the client identifies another link to the problem which may need to be desensitized. The EMDR process often helps clients reach new conclusions or make new connections which help in understanding the problem.
Other Uses EMDR has evolved as a tool to treat other problems, as well as trauma. It is now being found useful in the treatment of phobias, anxiety, and self-esteem issues. In the same way that bi-lateral stimulation helps to de-activate a troubling thought, it can enhance a positive thought, enabling clients to calm themselves or gain inner resources they couldn’t seem to otherwise connect to.
As a therapist, I have found EMDR to be a useful tool. Many people, who have not benefited from traditional therapy, have been helped with EMDR because it works very differently. I have used it successfully with trauma, but also in developing a client’s ability to self-sooth, to eliminate phobias, reduce negative thinking and for performance anxiety. Improvements have lasted over time and clients often report no further problem with the targeted issue.
Ginny Kelly, LICSW, is a trauma and family therapist, who has been using EMDR for over 10 years at her center. She is co-director of Tranquil Mind & Wellness, in Lakeville, MA, where other body, mind and spirit therapies are offered.
www.tranquilmind.net
