Source: EMDR International Association - www.emdria.org
Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful new method of doing psychotherapy. To
date, EMDR has helped an estimated half-million people of all ages
receive many different types of psychological distress.
HOW WAS EMDR DEVELOPED?
In 1987, psychologist Dr. Francine
Shapiro made the chance observation that eye movements can reduce the
intensity of disturbing thoughts under certain conditions. Dr. Shapiro
studies this effect scientifically, and in 1989 she reported success
using EMDR to treat victims of trauma in the Journal of Traumatic
Stress. Since then, EMDR has developed and evolved through the
contributions of therapists and researchers all over the world. Today,
EMDR is a set of protocols that incorporate elements from many different
treatment approaches.
HOW WAS EMDR DEVELOPED?
No one knows exactly how EMDR works.
However, we do know that when a person is very upset, their brain cannot
process information as it does ordinarily. One moment becomes
"frozen in time", and remembering a trauma may feel as bad as
going through it the first time because the images, sounds, smells, and
feelings haven't changed. Such memories have a lasting negative effect
on the way a person sees the world and relates to other people that
interferes with his or her life.
EMDR seems to have a direct effect on the
way that the brain functions. Normal information processing is resumed,
so following a successful EMDR session, the images, sounds, and feelings
no longer are relived when the event is brought to mind. What happened
is still remembered, but it is less upsetting. Many types of therapy
have similar goals. However, EMDR appears to be similar to what occurs
naturally during dreaming or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Therefore,
EMDR can be thought of as a physiologically-based therapy that helps a
person see disturbing material in a new and less distressing way.
BUT DOES EMDR REALLY WORK?
A number of scientific studies have shown
that EMDR is effective. For example, the prestigious Journal of
Consulting and Clinical Psychology published research by Wilson, Becker,
and Tinker in December 1995. This study of 80 subjects with
post-traumatic stress demonstrated that clients improved significantly
with EMDR treatment, and further study showed that this beneficial
effect was maintained for at least 15 months. The findings from this and
other studies indicate that EMDR is highly effective and that results
are long lasting. For further references, a bibliography of research on
EMDR may be obtained through EMDRIA.
WHAT IS THE ACTUAL EMDR SESSION LIKE?
During EMDR, the therapist works with the
client to identify a specific problem to be the focus of a treatment
session. The client calls to mind the disturbing issue or event, what
was seen, felt, heard, thought, etc., and what thoughts and beliefs
currently are held about that event. The therapist performs sets of eye
movements while the client focuses on the disturbing material, and the
client just notices whatever comes to mind without any effort to control
direction or content. Each person will process information uniquely,
based on personal experience and values. It is important to understand
that there is no way to do EMDR incorrectly! Sets of eye movements are
continued until the memory becomes less disturbing and is associated
with positive thought and beliefs about oneself: For example, "I
did the best I could." During EMDR, the client may experience
intense emotions but by the end of the session most people report a
great reduction in the level of disturbance.
HOW LONG DOES EMDR TAKE?
One or more sessions are required for the
therapist to understand the nature of the problem and to decide whether
EMDR is an appropriate treatment. The therapist also will discuss EMDR
more fully and provide an opportunity to answer any questions about the
method. Once therapist and client have agreed that EMDR is appropriate
for a specific problem, the actual EMDR therapy can begin.
A typical EMDR session lasts about 90
minutes. The type of problem, life circumstances, and the amount of
previous trauma will determine how many treatment sessions are
necessary. A single session of EMDR is sufficient in some cases.
However, a typical course of treatment is 3 to 10 sessions, performed
weekly, or every other week. EMDR may be used with a standard
"talking" therapy, or as a treatment all by itself.
WHAT KINDS OF PROBLEMS CAN EMDR TREAT?
Scientific research has established EMDR
as effective for posttraumatic stress. However, clinicians have reported
success using EMDR in treatment of the following conditions:
- posttraumatic stress phobias
- panic attacks performance anxiety
- dissociative disorders stress
reduction
- sexual and/or physical abuse
disturbing memories
- complicated grief anxiety disorders
- addictions
DOES INSURANCE COVER EMDR?
If your policy covers standard
psychotherapy, it most likely will cover EMDR. Currently, the EMDR
International Association (EMDRIA) is working toward establishing a
specific EMDR code for insurance reimbursement.
HOW DO I FIND A QUALIFIED EMDR THERAPIST?
With close to 45,000 licensed
psychotherapists world-wide currently trained in EMDR, it is likely that
there is one on your area. Due to EMDRIA's tax exempt status, we are
unable to make direct referrals. Individual practitioners who have
voluntarily submitted their qualifications and have met EMDRIA's
criteria for listing can be found in the EMDRIA Registry on our website
in the fall of 1997.
At the Healing Arts Center, Christine
Wilson provides EMDR treatments.
EMDRIA
P.O. BOX 140824
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78714-0824
TELEPHONE: 512/302-9943
FAX: 512/451-0329
E-MAIL: emdria@aol.com
INTERNET HOME PAGE: http://www.emdria.org
EMDR INSTITUTE: 831/372-3900
Source: EMDR International Association - www.emdria.org
EMDR FACT SHEET
What is the Goal of the EMDR Method?
The EMDR clinical goal is to achieve
the most profound and comprehensive treatment effects within the
shortest time possible while maintaining a stable client within a
stable system.
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing is a complex, eight-phase methodology and approach to the
treatment of trauma that integrates the salient aspects of most
therapeutic modalities. When incorporated into a comprehensive
treatment plan, EMDR accelerates the treatment of pathologies based on
disturbing life experiences. Successful EMDR treatment is far more
than mere desensitization, which enables clients to feel less anxious
about traumatic events. EMDR is a complete processing of the target
traumata. Treatment outcomes include a more adaptive emotional state,
a new cognitive perspective that includes the integration of insights
and recognition of life patterns that can guide client's future
actions, the adoption of useful behaviors, and the enhancement of a
generalized sense of self-efficacy.
What Role Do Eye Movements Play?
Eye movements, or other alternating
left-right stimulations, such as hand taps or audio tones, are only
one component of the EMDR method. Although the eye movements assist in
activating disturbing material and its processing, the movements alone
are insufficient for complete resolution of the problem. Research has
shown that the additional procedural elements are necessary for
complete treatment effects.
How Long is a Typical EMDR Session?
The initial history-taking should be
done in a separate 50-minute session. Often subsequent sessions using
EMDR require 90 minutes to allow the most distressing aspects of a
memory to be adequately addressed.
What is the Client's Role?
EMDR appears to unblock the information
processing system naturally inherent in clients. EMDR stimulates
clients' natural healing processes, allowing disturbing events to be
"digested" so that the lessons they have to offer are
learned. The unnecessary and detrimental emotional elements of
traumatic events such as fear and shame, are discarded. Individual
clients' healing processes direct the chains of association and form
of resolution.
What is the Clinician's Role?
EMDR clinicians are trained in how to
select clients appropriate for the EMDR method. Also, they learn about
what to do if processing gets stuck and how to facilitate client
response during the extremely rapid processing effects that
characterize most EMDR sessions. Clinicians need to be trained in the
content area related to individual client problems. EMDR is not a
replacement for solid clinical skills.
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