Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (“EMDR”) is a procedure developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the early 90’s as a treatment for painful and enduring traumatic memories that continue to cause emotional and physiological disturbances. The term “trauma” refers to either single events or ongoing traumatic events occurring in present time or that have taken place in the past. Traumatic effects include those associated with what is described as small “t” events, eg. unmet needs in one’s past that have caused negative beliefs and big “T” events associated with abuse that cause a range of disturbances including states of disassociation.
"More recently, EMDR has been referred to as “information processing therapy” because “old” information stored in the brain and body may be retrieved, addressed, and reprocessed with updated information and more understanding."
EMDR is also referred to as “dual attention stimulation” because various aspects of the trauma held within the body and nervous system are reprocessed while the client is attuned to the procedure itself which involves a focused state of attention. The procedure includes guided eye movements, alternating taps on the hands or knees, and/or alternating auditory stimulation.
By using this procedure with care and skill, therapists provide clients with the opportunity to reprocess traumatic memories, discover and develop more adaptive perceptions and responses, gain and ‘updated’ perspective of the upsetting events, and desensitize themselves to the painful aspects of the memories. Although EMDR originated as a structured protocol for trauma treatments, many therapists adapt and integrate the procedure within other therapeutic approaches. Not only is EMDR used for resolving traumatic effects, but it is also used as a means of exploring and deepening positive states, beliefs, images, sensations, and feelings. Clients often report a greater degree of self-awareness, ability to feel emotions and sensations, and a felt-sense of their energy system.