Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
“The mind replays what the heart can't delete.” ― Yasmin Mogahed
Eye Movement Desensitization and Processing (EMDR) is a form of psychotherapy that has been found to be particularly effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related conditions as well as helping with anxiety, depression, and addictions.
It is based on the Adaptive Information Processing Model which states that traumatic experiences can become "stuck" in the brain causing present day situations to trigger distress and symptoms such as anxiety, nightmares, and flashbacks.
How EMDR works
By stimulating both hemispheres of the brain, EMDR is thought to facilitate the processing and integration of the traumatic memory, leading to symptom relief and improved functioning.
During EMDR therapy, the therapist will ask the client to recall the traumatic event while simultaneously moving their eyes from side to side, typically by following the therapist's finger or a moving light. This is believed to help the client process and integrate the traumatic memory in a more adaptive way. Other forms of bilateral stimulation, such as tapping or auditory tones, may also be used.