What is EMDR
"EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — is an innovative method of psychotherapy which has been used by trained mental health professionals to help an estimated one million people of all ages from many different countries.
The focus of EMDR treatment is the resolution of emotional distress arising from difficult childhood experiences,or the recovery from the effects of critical incidents, such as automobile accidents, assault, natural disasters, and combat trauma. Other problems treated with EMDR are phobias, panic attacks, distress in children, and substance abuse.
Another innovative focus of EMDR is performance enhancement that aims to improve the functioning of people at work, in sports, and in performing arts. (quote from the EMDRIA website)
Is EMDR for me?
What happens after a very scary or painful event? Instead of getting over it, we often get stuck. This can lead to disturbances in how we feel, think, and act. We might not realize that a change in thinking feeling or acting has occurred until we remember how things were different before. Or the memory itself could be the problem, often popping up in unwelcomed ways.
The question is "How do I get "unstuck" and free of disturbance?" The general response from the experts is the only way out of these disturbances is going through them. We go through them by really facing and working through the upsetting memories. This can be done in many ways. Psychotherapists are trained to facilitate this process.
EMDR is an intensive and effective procedure for working through upsetting events. It should only be provided by a mental health professional with formal, supervised training in EMDR. It is safe, and does not involve hypnosis or drugs. Research has shown that EMDR can help to make treatment both fast and effective.
|