|
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (E.M.D.R.) |
| |
Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy
(Shapiro, 2001) was initially developed in 1987 for
the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
and is guided by the Adaptive Information Processing
model (Shapiro 2007). EMDR is an individual therapy
typically delivered one to two times per week for a
total of 6-12 sessions, although some people benefit
from fewer sessions. Sessions can be conducted on
consecutive days.
The Adaptive Information Processing model considers
symptoms of PTSD and other disorders (unless
physically or chemically based) to result from past
disturbing experiences that continue to cause
distress because the memory was not adequately
processed. These unprocessed memories are understood
to contain the emotions, thoughts, beliefs and
physical sensations that occurred at the time of the
event. When the memories are triggered these stored
disturbing elements are experienced and cause the
symptoms of PTSD and/or other disorders.
Unlike other treatments that focus on directly
altering the emotions, thoughts and responses
resulting from traumatic experiences, EMDR therapy
focuses directly on the memory, and is intended to
change the way that the memory is stored in the
brain, thus reducing and eliminating the problematic
symptoms.
During EMDR therapy, clinical observations suggest
that an accelerated learning process is stimulated
by EMDR’s standardized procedures, which incorporate
the use of eye movements and other forms of rhythmic
left-right (bilateral) stimulation (e.g., tones or
taps). While clients briefly focus on the trauma
memory and simultaneously experience bilateral
stimulation (BLS), the vividness and emotion of the
memory are reduced.
The treatment is conditionally recommended for the
treatment of PTSD. |
| |
|
