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What is Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)?

EMDR is a powerful integrative psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences.


EMDR was initially developed by an American Psychologist, Dr Francine Shapiro, in the 1980’s after making the chance observation that eye movements can reduce the intensity of disturbing thoughts, under certain conditions. EMDR has now developed and evolved through the contributions of therapists and researchers all over the world. Today, EMDR is a set of standardised protocols that incorporates elements from many different therapy approaches.

How does EMDR work?

EMDR is not a form of hypnosis. You will remain fully awake and conscious at all times during your session and you will have total control over what is happening.


If something traumatic happens to you whether it be a traffic or work accident, abuse, rape, bullying, combat stress, the memory of your experience may come crashing back into your mind, forcing you to relive the original event with the same intensity of feeling, like it is taking place in the present moment.


These experiences that pop into your awareness may present themselves as either distressing memories, flashbacks or nightmares, and are thought to occur because the mind was simply too overwhelmed during the event to process what was going on.


As a result, these unprocessed memories and the accompanying sights, sounds, smells, tastes, thoughts and feelings are stored in the brain in a raw form, where they can be accessed each time we experience something that triggers a recollection of the original event.


While it is not possible to erase trauma memories, the process of EMDR can alter the way these traumatic memories are stored within the brain, making them easier to manage and causing you less distress. This is done through a highly structured eight phase protocol, which address the past, present and future aspects of a stored memory, requiring clients to recall their distressing image by using bilateral stimulation and duel attention. This usually involves noticing images, thoughts and feelings whilst undertaking eye movements, listening to tones or using hand taps.

 

I use the latest equipment from America to apply bilateral stimulation and dual attention. This process is thought to replicate the rapid eye movements that occur in sleep and by which the emotional and rational side of the brain communicate and process experiences. The video below explores an EMDR session in more detail and although I use a lap scanner instead of the vibrate buttons the technique is the same.

        EMDR therapy has been a huge part of my recovery from combat stress. EMDR has helped me to unlock and resolve some old painful memories.

 

My relationships, mood swings and sleep have also improved as a result and I now feel able to cope with my past experiences. Thanks to EMDR sessions with Julie I now feel I have my independence back.

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       Following a road accident, I had a real fear of driving again. I was sceptical about how EMDR could help; and I still have no idea how it has cured me, but the change has been incredible.

 

Where I once dreaded car journeys I now hop into the car and drive without thought

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How effective is EMDR?

EMDR is a scientifically validated therapeutic approach and has been recommended by the Governments National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, which includes combat stress.

 

EMDR has also been successfully applied in the treatment of phobias, chronic pain, complicated grief, sexual and physical abuse and a number of anxiety disorders including performance anxiety.

 

EMDR can also be helpful for combat stress and emergency services personnel. Reported benefits of EMDR include; a reduction in experiencing trauma memories, feeling able to cope with trauma memories without needing to avoid potential triggers, improved mood, sleep pattern and relationships; reduced feelings of stress, anxiety and hypervigilance.

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