What
is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and
Reprocessing Therapy. It was developed in 1987 by
psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro into a well-tested
protocol, initially for highly-effective treatment of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder. However, it has since been very
successfully adapted to help resolve a wide number of
issues.
Dr. Shapiro's theoretical model for EMDR is based on what
she calls Adaptive Information Processing. The idea is that
current symptoms are triggered by unresolved historical
trauma which, at the time, are 'locked' in the nervous
system. All the related affects of experience and distress
can be misfiled or simply unprocessed in our physiology,
leaving us open to being triggered by stimuli in our present
life into our original traumatic state. EMDR seems to unlock
these unresolved traumatic affects, and allows our system to
process and resolve them in a way that is no longer
disturbing.
The 'reprocessing' aspect of treatment allows us to
reinterpret the old material in a new way, letting go of
what is no longer valuable about the experience, and
allowing the adaptive memory networks of the brain to find
new insights and resources. For more information, please see
the FAQ
page.
A study comparing the effectiveness
of Prozac vs. EMDR showed that EMDR was more successful
than Prozac in achieving substantial and sustained
reductions in anxiety and depression.
(The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, January 2007)
About
EMDR* is accelerated psychotherapy... We offer short-term, lasting treatment to help you overcome depression, addiction, eating disorders, sleep disorders, phobia, chronic pain, relationship issues, direction/career, accident trauma/PTSD and much much more....