What is EMDR therapy and how does it work?

EMDR therapy is a phased, focused approach to treating trauma and other symptoms by reconnecting the traumatized person in a safe and measured way to the images, self-thoughts, emotions, and body sensations associated with the trauma, and allowing the natural healing powers of the brain to move toward adaptive …

What is the purpose of EMDR?

Unlike other treatments that focus on directly altering the emotions, thoughts and responses resulting from traumatic experiences, EMDR therapy focuses directly on the memory, and is intended to change the way that the memory is stored in the brain, thus reducing and eliminating the problematic symptoms.

Is EMDR therapy real?

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an empirically validated treatment for trauma, including such negative life experiences as commonly present in medical practice.

Can I do EMDR on myself?

It is possible to self-administer EMDR on yourself; however, it is not often recommended. If you do decide to try a self-administered EMDR program, it is recommended to only do so for smaller-scale traumas, such as something “minor” that has happened in the present.

What do you need to know about reprocessing memories?

Reprocessing Memories with EMDR. Instead of open-ended talk sessions, EMDR uses short-term techniques to draw on the healing power of the mind’s memory system. The basic idea is that the mind reacts to every highly charged experience with a neural memory system that helps process the event as well as the thoughts and feelings associated with it.

How to reprocesse memories with eye movement desensitization?

If you are not yet a subscriber, you can sign up by using the form in the sidebar or the one on the newsletter page .) Unlike other recent forms of psychotherapy that focus entirely on the present, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps you recall critical incidents of the past that are still causing you pain.

How is EMDR used to reprocesse memories?

EMDR guides you to bring back the earliest memories that established the harmful pattern and stimulates the memory system to do its work of reprocessing. Once that happens, the memory loses its fearful influence and becomes just another event to be recalled when appropriate.

How is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing ( EMDR ) used to treat PTSD?

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a fairly new, nontraditional type of psychotherapy. It’s growing in popularity, particularly for treating post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ).