Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

EMDR therapy is a structured approach designed to help individuals process and resolve distressing or traumatic memories that are negatively impacting their well-being.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not require clients to describe the traumatic event in detail, and it does not involve homework or prolonged exposure. Instead, it uses something called bilateral stimulation (often in the form of eye movements or tapping) to help the brain and the body to become more desensitized to difficult memories that haven't been adequately processed or dealt with in the way that was needed.

EMDR therapy is based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. This model proposes that:

• Our brains are naturally wired to process our life experiences in a healthy, adaptive way.

• When a person experiences a trauma or overwhelming event, the memory may become "stuck" or "frozen" in its original, unprocessed form.

• These unprocessed memories contain the original images, thoughts, emotions, and body sensations from the traumatic moment and can be triggered by current experiences, leading to symptoms like anxiety, depression, flashbacks, or emotional dysregulation.

• EMDR therapy helps to unlock and reprocess these traumatic memories so they can be integrated like other adaptive memories — allowing the person to move forward without being controlled by the past.