Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a scientifically validated, integrative psychotherapy approach based on the idea that much of psychopathology is due to traumatic experiences or disturbing life events. When trauma occurs, it can interfere with the person’s ability to integrate these experiences within the central nervous system. The core of EMDR treatment involves activating components of the traumatic memory or disturbing life event and pairing those components with alternating bilateral stimulation. This process facilitates the integration of the experience and often results in the alleviation of present symptoms, a diminishing of distress from the memory, an improved view of the self, relief from the bodily disturbance and the resolution of present and future triggers.

EMDR has a standardized protocol but the length of treatment varies according to the severity of trauma(s). The treatment of adult-based traumas is generally brief and relief from the memory of a disturbing event (such as a car crash or mugging) or a pervasive fear (such as flying, or crowds, etc) can be accomplished within a couple or more sessions. For developmental issues of trauma, sessions may run longer and are usually incorporated into regular individual therapy sessions. People with severely traumatic-based childhoods can require a significantly longer period of time (2 years or so) to resolve the effects of the past on their current lives.

EMDR has helped millions of individuals who have been subjected to traumatic experiences and events. For more information on EMDR