What is EMDR therapy?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of psychotherapy used to help individuals deal with traumatic experiences and eliminate negative feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that result from those experiences Psychology professor Francine Shapiro.

EMDR includes an eight-step list that includes talking about the traumatic experience, identifying negative thoughts and feelings associated with the experience, and using two stimulation techniques such as eye movement or they are created, to help process conscious experience

The theory behind EMDR is that when a person experiences a traumatic event, the memory of that event is “detached” from the brain and becomes completely inactive and as a result the memory can trigger negative emotions, thoughts and actions long after the incident. The bilateral stimulation used in EMDR is believed to help “unload” the memory and allow the brain to fully process the experience, thus reducing negative symptoms

EMDR has been found to be effective in treating a variety of mental health conditions including PTSD, anxiety, depression and panic disorders. It is usually performed by a trained therapist in a one-on-one setting, although a different approach can be used in a group therapy setting or through online therapy