EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

Events that are distressing — ones that made us feel that we had no control, were unsafe or were defective in some way — have a unique effect on our minds, bodies, and emotions. These experiences are not processed the same way as “regular” or non-distressing experiences. They are stored in the brain in a maladaptive form. The goal of EMDR is to reprocess the distressing memory so that it can be stored in the brain in an adaptive form. EMDR sessions follow a specific sequence of eight phases. In one of these phases, therapists use bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, to help process unresolved memories from adverse experiences.

EMDR is a research-supported, integrative psychotherapy designed to treat trauma and stress . It is recommended as an effective form of treatment by several major health organizations. Studies show that it is possible to alleviate distressing symptoms more rapidly with EMDR than with talk therapy alone. Because discussing the details of a traumatic experience is not required in EMDR sessions, the anxiety associated with confronting and revealing those details may be alleviated.