What is EMDR?
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, is a structured form of therapy that is designed to address past, present, and future aspects of disturbing memories or experiences. It is a technique that psychologists and other professionals are specially trained to perform.

EMDR integrates certain elements of imaginal exposure, cognitive therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and somatic therapies together to form an 8-phase process to help someone having difficulty overcoming a memory, trauma, or uncomfortable experience. The memory is revisited for less than one minute at a time, but attended to in great detail by the therapist guiding the process.

Over time, the feared memory (or stimulus) becomes less and less powerful over us. We regain control over ourselves; we control when and how we will respond to memories, reminders, or aspects of the experience.

EMDR treatment has been shown in clinical trials to help different psychological difficulties stemming from unresolved distressing events, such as trauma.

Who does EMDR help?
EMDR can help with overcoming a past, painful event that is affecting your life today. EMDR helps you examine the past, the present, and the future in light of this event. The treatment can change the way that you react to it. EMDR creates options for us in ways that other therapies cannot. Research studies have shown its effectiveness in multiple diagnostic categories.

What does the treatment involve?
The treatment involves moving the eyes back and forth, in a variety of ways, for a series of 15-30 second time periods. This all occurs while the therapist guides you while you are attending to a memory or image. There are no instruments used, and the therapist conducting the structured sessions will partner with you to ensure that each session is successful.