Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused psychological treatment recommended in the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However this therapy is also very effective for treating any emotional distress resulting from a significant life events and is based on an assumption that the distressing memories, emotions and physical sensations experienced long after the trauma are due to the memory of the event being stuck rather than stored as a past event. The therapy aims to help process the event and place it in the past, with limited implications for the future. This is achieved by replicating the natural process that occurs during dreaming, which is considered the brains way of processing the day’s events, and where the eyes move from side to side. As disturbing memories are focussed on in therapy whilst moving the eyes from side to side (or sometimes a tactile or audio stimulus) they become less distressing and new insights into the event occur coupled with a more positive view of self. The past, current triggers of upsetting memories and consideration to future behaviours are all considered in EMDR therapy.
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused psychological treatment recommended in the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However this therapy is also very effective for treating any emotional distress resulting from a significant life events and is based on an assumption that the distressing memories, emotions and physical sensations experienced long after the trauma are due to the memory of the event being stuck rather than stored as a past event. The therapy aims to help process the event and place it in the past, with limited implications for the future. This is achieved by replicating the natural process that occurs during dreaming, which is considered the brains way of processing the day’s events, and where the eyes move from side to side. As disturbing memories are focussed on in therapy whilst moving the eyes from side to side (or sometimes a tactile or audio stimulus) they become less distressing and new insights into the event occur coupled with a more positive view of self. The past, current triggers of upsetting memories and consideration to future behaviours are all considered in EMDR therapy.
emdr-leaflet.docx