EMDR
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR); is a specialised form of psychotherapy which is recommended by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and was originally designed to treat high levels of distress associated with traumatic experiences and distressing memories. EMDR works by helping the mind to reintegrate and make sense of past events, so that distressing feelings and fears associated with old memories can be reprocessed in an adaptive way.
EMDR does not change or delete the traumatic or distressing experience, however, it helps the mind to heal from the effects of the trauma by using a process called Adaptive Information Processing or AIP. It is an evidence-based, NICE recommended treatment for PTSD. It is also recognised as an effective treatment for other psychological problems traced to trauma or adverse life events, including depression, low self-esteem, addictions, obsessive compulsive disorder, health anxiety and panic disorder.
What will happen during the sessions?
EMDR utilises the natural healing ability of your body. After a thorough assessment, you will be asked specific questions about a particular disturbing memory. Eye movements, similar to those during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, will be recreated simply by asking you to watch the therapist's finger moving backwards and forwards across your visual field. Sometimes, a bar of moving lights or headphones is used instead. The eye movements will last for a short while and then stop. You will then be asked to report back on the experiences you have had during each of these sets of eye movements.
Experiences during a session may include changes in thoughts, images and feelings. With repeated sets of eye movements, the memory tends to change in such a way that it loses its painful intensity and simply becomes a neutral memory of an event in the past. Other associated memories may also heal at the same time. This linking of related memories can lead to a dramatic and rapid improvement in many aspects of your life.