EMDR

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. This very powerful tool was developed by a psychologist named Francine Shapiro in 1989.   The original research with this technique was done with Vietnam veterans in California who were still suffering severe effects of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The results of the study were extraordinarily impressive and the technique was then applied to other areas of trauma. There is now an extensive body of research documenting the efficacy of the method with a broad range of psychological issues and with performance enhancement.

Very simply, the method apparently stimulates the part of the brain that is the center for processing trauma and supports the nervous system in being able to process material that was too intense to resolve subsequent to the painful event(s). When done properly, EMDR significantly reduces the emotional pain and the accompanying body sensations associate with the memory of the trauma. More importantly, EMDR allows the person to change the underlying false belief(s) that were instilled with the trauma and replace them with more truthful, helpful beliefs. For example, a small child being abused usually believes deep down that he or she deserved the abuse and this belief becomes a part of the adult’s subconscious and will continue to limit that person’s ability to feel good about him or her self and to develop their full potential.

The process involves bilateral eye movement or bilateral auditory or kinesthetic stimulation while focusing on and witnessing the internal changes that transpire from accessing painful memories. When done well,   new associations are generated in the nervous system with more positive and realistic information. Thus clients not only experience a reduction of distress but often experience fresh insights and perspectives and establish a healthier platform from which to create their futures.

Applications of EMDR

I. Resolving trauma: an extremely distressing experience that causes severe emotional shock and may have long lasting psychological effects.

A. The protocol is to:

1) identify a visual memory of a traumatic event;
2) identify the false belief and the replacement belief:
3) identify the emotional component:
4) identify where in the body the distress is located;
5) determine the degree of distress.

B. Do the bilateral eye movement (bilateral auditory or kinesthetic stimulation) until the distress decreases to neutral.

C. Install the new belief.

II. Enhancing new behaviors

III. Changing belief systems

Appropriate Candidates:

1) People who still experience noticeable distress when triggered by or actively remembering a traumatic event. Examples would include childhood trauma, car accidents, war, sexual or physical assault, mental abuse, domestic violence, public humiliation.

2) People who are in training for a new skill.

3) People who are aware that they have limiting beliefs that are blocking their abilities.

Kathryn has been using EMDR very successfully for the past 15 years. Additional references and research can be found at www.emdr.com and in the book  EMDR: The Breakthrough Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma by Francine Shapiro, 1997.