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EMDR
by G. Susan Rivers, LMFT
(EMDR therapist since 1992)
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) was developed by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D.,
from the Mental Research Institute in
Palo Alto, CA , in 1987. In 1989 it became widely used in the treatment
of
Vietnam veterans. Numerous research studies continue to be replicated to this day for validity and reliability.
EMDR is designed to be used by a trained clinician within the context of psychotherapy. It is used with
children, adolescents, and adults with a variety of symptoms and issues, such as depression, anxiety, phobias,
and post-traumatic stress disorder. It also assists in resolving negative feelings which cause difficulties in one’s
present life. EMDR works with clients experiencing chronic pain, HIV/AIDS, dissociative disorder, panic attacks, etc.
EMDR is used extensively for the treatment of post-traumatic stress reactions. Those who experience current or
past traumas, natural disasters, sexual abuse/assault, auto accidents, work accidents, etc., benefit from EMDR.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
 EMDR works in the brain. It is believed that EMDR prompts a physiological change on a neuro-
logical level. When a trauma occurs, there is a pathological change of neural elements as result of the
overwhelming intense response to the event. The brain then produces extra norepinephrine, which in
turn decreases REM sleep. REM, under normal circumstances, processes information which the brain
gathers while awake. Literally, trauma causes an overload in the system and information processing
is blocked. This neurological blockage, in turn causes the incident to remain in its high anxiety pro-
ducing form, complete with the originally perceived pictures, emotions, sensations, and negative self-
assessments. Due to the blockage, information is stored in separate areas of the brain, and when triggered, is
experienced as intrusive thoughts, and/or feelings, flashbacks, nightmares, and other related symptoms. For process
to continue, the block needs to be undone.
Right brain/left brain functioning
Gregory Nicosia, a
Pittsburgh psychologist, using color brain mapping, found that delta and theta brain waves of the
right and left brain were not synchronized after trauma. His research indicates the brain waves move together on both
sides of the brain once EMDR is performed. Nicosia’s studies connect the eye movement of EMDR to the integration
of the right brain and let brain material. Therefore, the important part of recovery is the integration and information
processing of the left brain/right brain material. It is not enough to just remember the events; recovery requires the
reprocessing of the information.
A natural healing process
EMDR is not hypnosis. Since one is in a waking state during EMDR and not suggestible as one might be during
hypnosis. The client is very much in control of thoughts, images and feelings—ones that may or may not be of actual
factual events. Nevertheless, it is thoughts, images and feelings like these that clearly come from within the client,
that appear to help reduce the unwanted symptoms when processed.
EMDR is a natural process—one in which the client and the therapist become partners in a journey that is designed
to access, unblock, free up, process and integrate material that once was blocked. the ultimate goal is to gain freedom
from emotional blockages and move on with life.
EMDR Therapy
EMDR is not a replacement for psychotherapy. It is a highly refined tool when used by a trained physician. EMDR
can free the mind from emotionally charged mental visions and sensate memories of a trauma. Symptoms such as
sleeplessness, anxiety or inappropriate anger are reportedly reduced or eliminated. Studies indicate trauma jolts a
person’s left and right brain out of synch. EMDR seems to restore harmony in the brain. The number of sessions
required depends on the severity and chronicity of the trauma/issue.
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