EMDR

What Is EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy for trauma treatment developed by Francine Shapiro in 1987. The therapist moves their finger from side to side while the client tracks it with their eyes and simultaneously recalls the traumatic memory. This seemingly peculiar procedure reduces the emotional intensity of the traumatic memory and facilitates its reprocessing. The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends EMDR as a treatment for PTSD, and its efficacy has been demonstrated in numerous randomized controlled trials.

Why Do Eye Movements Work

Multiple hypotheses have been proposed regarding EMDR's mechanism of action, but it has not been fully elucidated. One leading theory suggests that bilateral eye movements activate neural processes similar to the rapid eye movements during REM sleep, facilitating memory consolidation and reprocessing. Another theory proposes that eye movements place a load on working memory, thereby reducing the emotional distress that arises when recalling traumatic memories. In any case, EMDR has the unusual distinction of having its clinical efficacy demonstrated before a theoretical explanation of "why it works" was established.

The EMDR Treatment Process

EMDR is not simply a treatment where you move your eyes. It follows a structured eight-phase protocol. In the early stages of treatment, the client is stabilized and resources are built up, and only after sufficient preparation does the processing of traumatic memories begin. During processing, the client simultaneously holds awareness of the images, emotions, bodily sensations, and negative self-beliefs associated with the traumatic memory while receiving bilateral stimulation. As processing progresses, the content of the memory itself does not change, but the emotional distress accompanying it diminishes, and the recognition that "that was in the past" naturally emerges.