History & effectiveness of EMDR therapy in treatment

A Quick Guide

EMDR therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that uses bilateral eye movement to process unresolved traumatic memories and alleviate distressing symptoms. It was discovered by Francine Shapiro and has been clinically tested for various conditions such as PTSD, phobias, anxiety disorders, grief, sexual abuse, addiction, performance issues, chronic pain, and personality disorders. EMDR therapy can benefit individuals struggling with pathology as well as those seeking personal growth and healing.

What is EMDR therapy?

EMDR therapy is an empirically tested psychotherapeutic approach for treating multiple psychological conditions. The purpose of this therapy is to stimulate a person’s bilateral attention through eye movement and process unresolved traumatic memories. In a way, the images, emotions, thoughts, and beliefs associated with these memories no longer manifest in our present life in the form of distressing symptoms.

Historical Origins of EMDR Therapy

EMDR therapy was first discovered by Francine Shapiro in 1987. As a psychotherapist, she observed that her distressing thoughts were changing and disappearing without her conscious effort. So, to find the underlying reason, she started being more aware and attentive to her physical and mental state. She found that whenever disturbing thoughts came to her mind, her eyes would automatically start moving up and down. During this, her thoughts would disappear. And afterward, when she thought about them again, their negative intensity declined.

In order to test this, she practiced this with other people having different complaints of disturbing memories, maladaptive beliefs, childhood memories, and present life problems. Likewise, she guided their eye movement, helped them process their experiences, and give them an adaptive meaning. Consequently, many people felt its positive effects. This approach was later clinically tested on people with traumatic memories of abuse, war, etc and results again indicated its promise in treating psychological symptoms of such conditions. Particularly by desensitizing and cognitive restructuring of people’s perceptions of the traumatic memories. The positive effects of EMDR treatment are also maintained over time.

Who can benefit from EMDR therapy?

EMDR therapy has been clinically tested on multiple pathologies. People suffering from the following conditions can benefit from it:

• People with PTSD, war trauma, terrorist victims, and refugees.
• Individuals with intense fear-like symptomology. For example, phobias, anxiety disorders, and panic attacks.
• Persons who have been victims of crime, police officers. And first responders who have been exposed to after-effects of violent assaults.
• Individuals undergoing grief of losing a loved one to a tragic way of demise.
• Children exposed to assault or traumas of war or natural disasters
• Victims of sexual abuse.
• Victims of burning, surgery, or accidents.
• People experience sexual dysfunction of some sort in their relationships.
• Persons who occasionally engage in substance abuse, chemical dependency, or addiction disorders.
• Individuals who struggle with performance anxiety Or other performance issues at work, school, business, or sports.
• People who suffer from somatic disorders and chronic pain conditions.
• People with personality disorders.
• Persons undergoing depression and other clinical disorders.

In other words, EMDR therapy can be useful in alleviating the symptoms of negative experiences of individuals struggling with pathology and dysfunction. Also, it can even help normally functioning individuals who want to overcome the long-lasting impact of their negative experiences or childhood memories.

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