Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a type of psychotherapy designed to help people process traumatic or distressing experiences so that those memories feel less overwhelming and have less impact on their daily lives.
How does EMDR work?
During EMDR, bring a specific distressing memory to mind while engaging in bilateral stimulation.
Bilateral stimulation (BLS) usually involves:
Following the therapist's fingers or a moving light with your eyes.
Listening to alternating sounds in each ear.
Feeling gentle alternating taps on your hands or knees.
These movements or sensations are thought to support the brain's natural information-processing system. As you work through a memory, you may notice changes in the emotions, thoughts, physical sensations, or images associated with it.
The goal isn't to erase the memory or make you forget what happened. Instead, the goal is for you to remember what happened without feeling as though you are still experiencing it.
What kinds of experiences can EMDR help with?
EMDR is commonly used to address:
Childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences
Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
Accidents, injuries, or medical trauma
Relationship trauma and painful interpersonal experiences
Grief and traumatic loss
Bullying, rejection, or experiences of humiliation
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety and distress connected to past experiences
It may also help with negative beliefs that develop following difficult experiences, such as:
"I'm not good enough"
"I'm not safe"
"I can't trust anyone"
"I'm powerless"
"There is something wrong with me"
How do I know if EMDR is right for me?
EMDR may be worth considering if you feel that experiences from your past are continuing to affect how you feel, think, behave, or relate to others in the present.
It may be particularly helpful if you find yourself understanding intellectually that something is over, but emotionally or physically you still feel affected by it.