When post-traumatic disturbance is triggered by a current-day stimulus, the intrusive feelings and imagery from the memory tend to have a very ‘right now’ quality - as though you may be re-living the trauma all over again. These types of experiences may generate self-defeating emotions or thoughts such as “What’s wrong with me?” or “I should be over this by now.”

Eye Movement Desensitisation and

Reprocessing is a form of

psychotherapy developed in the 1980’s

by Francine Shapiro. It was

originally designed to alleviate distress

caused by traumatic memories.

However, evidence supporting it’s

effectiveness in treating a wider

range of issues is now more commonly

accepted:

  • depression

  • anxiety

  • performance anxiety

  • panic attacks

  • complicated grief

  • body dysmorphic disorders

  • eating disorders

  • trauma

  • stress

  • phobias

  • addiction

EMDR is an 8-phase treatment. One of the most comforting factors for my clients to hear is that it does not rely on narrative therapy which can sometimes re-trigger past traumatic experiences. Whilst learning to self-soothe is an important aspect of coping, it may not assist us in softening our painful and or traumatic memories. EMDR therapy requires the client to bring into awareness the thoughts, feelings, and sensations associated with traumatic memories while your eyes move rapidly. Using time periods of 30-60 seconds, client’s follow the therapist’s hand movements which stimulates a naturally occurring electrical pattern in the brain which generates change in stored trauma memories - typically the memory desensitises, thus making it less intense.

Following an EMDR session the client no longer relives the trauma. The incident or memory can still be recalled, however it no longer feels overwhelming or upsetting.