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What Type of Therapy Is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and is primarily used to treat people with trauma histories, specifically those with post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. It is also used to help people with addictions and phobias.

  1. Function

    • As a treatment for people with trauma histories, EMDR is one of the most widely researched and effective treatment methods. It has helped people with a wide range of traumas, including war, abuse, rape, natural disasters and large-scale accidents.

    Features

    • The process of EMDR is relatively simple, although unique when compared to traditional types of psychotherapy. It generally involves the client thinking about the traumatic event while the therapist uses a type of stimulation, usually finger movements done in front of the client's face or hand tapping. Although this is the general process, it is a complex, multi-faceted therapy with many components that are required for it to work properly.

    Misconceptions

    • EMDR is frequently confused with types of cognitive and behavioral therapies. However, Francine Shapiro, the founder of EMDR, describes it as "Adaptive Information Processing," which she states works by changing the connections in the brain that link traumatic memories and the feelings and cognitions associated with them.

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