How It Works
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy approach designed to alleviate distress associated with traumatic memories and problematic internal narratives. It involved a structured eight-phase process where the therapist guides the client through recalling distressing memories while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, through side to side eye movements, tappers, or self-tapping. This bilateral stimulation is used to help process the traumatic memory by facilitating the brain’s natural ability to heal. Through repeated sets of stimulation, the memory’s emotional charge is reduced, allowing for more adaptive processing and integration of the traumatic experience into the client’s overall life narrative. EMDR is widely used and has shown effectiveness in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and many other conditions.
