EYE MOVEMENT DESensitizaton and reprocessing Therapy was developed by Dr. Francis Shapiro in 1987. EMDR traditionally uses certain eye movements in order to revisit distressful or traumatic memories with awareness and compassion.
The thought behind EMDR is that the brain has a natural ability to heal from trauma. However, sometimes, traumatic memories can get stuck, leading to distressing symptoms. EMDR helps to unlock and process these memories, allowing the brain to complete its natural healing process.
Dr. Shapiro says this about EMDR, “Changing the memories that form the way we see ourselves also changes the way we view others. Therefore, our relationships, job performance, what we are willing to do or are able to resist, all move in a positive direction.”
the EMDR process involves:
Identifying traumatic memories: The facilitator helps you identify specific traumatic events that are causing distress.
Bilateral stimulation: While focusing on the traumatic memory, you'll engage in bilateral stimulation, which involves back-and-forth movements of the eyes, or other sensory input like Bilateral tapping.
Desensitization and reprocessing: Through this process, the intensity of the traumatic memory gradually decreases, and the associated negative emotions diminish.
