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WHAT IS EMDR?

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• Evidence-based​

• Trauma-focused

• Structured

• Effective for clients of all ages (0+)

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​EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy that incorporates several modalities (e.g., cognitive, behavioral, and psychodynamic) (Shapiro & Forrest, 2016). Mental health professionals are increasing awareness of how trauma has played a role in a variety of other mental health diagnosis. Landin-Romero et al. (2018) state EMDR has been identified as successful in treating OCD, panic disorder, bi-polar disorder, unipolar depression, dental phobias, alcohol dependency, and pain management. The goals of EMDR are to increase distress tolerance, desensitize the memory and all of its associated components (negative beliefs about oneself and/or the world, triggers, uncomfortable body sensations, intrusive thoughts, and any other disturbing negative symptoms that resulted from the traumatic event), and reprocess the memory with positive associations (e.g., positive beliefs, body sensations and images).

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EMDR HISTORY 

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Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. in the 1980s. Dr. Shapiro (2018) explained she gained awareness of the positive impact bilateral stimulation (BLS) had on desensitizing distressing thoughts while on a walk in California. She applied this newfound information to survivors of traumatic events and found consistency in positive outcomes with horizontal eye movements when the clients simultaneously recalled the stressful memories. EMDR has been approved by the World Health Organization and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence as the treatment of choice for treating PTSD (Landin-Romero et al., 2018). The American Psychological Association (2022) has approved EMDR as an evidenced-based psychotherapy for treating phobias and PTSD.

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Fidelity to the EMDR model requires all eight phases to be completed, and typically the phases are completed in order.​ The model is structured and capable of addressing clients with various diagnosis. The clients may become avoidant in effort to manage distress of the memory. Dr. Shapiro (2018) encourages clinicians to take time to meet the clients needs throughout all phases, while continuing to prompt the client to address—and not avoid—the trauma.  Education and reminders that the disturbance will peak, and then decline, is offered to help motivate clients to proceed with processing.​Landin-Romero et al. (2018) summarize EMDR is, "cognitively demanding task and requires attention, self-consciousness, autobiographical semantic memory, and metacognition to successfully identify the potential dysfunctional processes underlying the traumatic memory". It's important the clients are interested and invested in the process. It can take time and commitment during and in-between sessions.

 

Dr. Shapiro (2018) highlights there is no homework involved in EMDR, and the clients are not required to talk a lot. These are two attractive components for this therapy and has motivated some clients to select this intervention over others such as CBT which is known for it's out-of-session homework. Clients who are not interested or at least willing to be curious about the process are not good candidates for EMDR.

 

​References: 

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American Psychological Association. (2022). https://www.apa.org/search?query=EMDR  ​

 

Landin-Romero, R., Moreno-Alcazar, A., Pagani, M., & Amann, B. L. (2018). How does eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy work? A systematic review on suggested mechanisms of action. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1395-1395. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01395  

 

​Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). The Guilford Press. 

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Shapiro, F. & Forrest, M. S. (2016). EMDR: The breakthrough therapy for overcoming anxiety, stress, and trauma. Basic Books.