EMDRÒ
stands
for “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing” and was developed by
Francine Shapiro, PhD., of Palo Alto, CA.
EMDRÒ
It
is an innovative clinical treatment that has successfully helped many
thousands of individuals who have survived traumatic events, including natural
disaster, sexual abuse,
domestic violence, combat, crime, and those suffering from a number of other
complaints including depression, addictions, phobias and a variety of
self-esteem and performance related issues.
EMDRÒ has been featured on "20/20", NPR's "Morning
Edition", CNN and in articles in Harper's, Newsweek, New York magazine,
Psychology Today, USA Today, and in numerous local and regional magazines,
newspapers, radio and TV broadcasts.
EMDRÒ
is not a ‘stand-alone’ methodology, but rather one that may be integrated
with most traditional therapeutic approaches. With EMDRÒ,
the brain’s information processing system is activated, focused and accelerated so
that people can achieve recognizable and lasting changes at a rapid rate.
Many controlled studies support the effectiveness of EMDRÒ,
making it one of the most thoroughly researched methods ever.
Studies over the past few years with individuals suffering from events
such as rape, combat, loss of a loved one, accidents, natural disasters, etc.
have found that 84-90% no longer had post-traumatic stress disorder after only
three treatment sessions. In another recent study, financed by Kaiser Permanente, EMDRÒ was
found to be significantly more effective in a fraction of the time when compared to the
typical-traditional treatment methods regularly utilized within the Kaiser Permanente system at
that time.
However,
it is important to note that EMDRÒ
is not a quick fix.
While many people show dramatic responses in a short amount of time,
there are also those who will progress more slowly and that the slower
progression is not abnormal. Just as in any therapy or change process,
progress advances at the rate appropriate to the individual and his/her unique
situation.
BACK TO THE TOP
Eye
movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDRÒ)
has played a role in relieving the symptoms of clients troubled by extreme abuse histories and early or recent traumatic events. Many persons who have
not found relief (via other therapies, treatments or other resources) from chronic conditions as addictions,
eating disorders, anxiety, depression and limited personal and professional
performance, have done so with EMDRÒ
treatment.
Positive change/ recovery need not be a lifelong challenge.
Shortly following her discovery of the positive
effects of the treatment, Dr Shapiro and others were curious about that answer
as
well. At that time she and her colleagues theorized that since the eye movements were
similar to those observed in REM (Rapid Eye Movement or dream) sleep, the
answer may well involve the activation of the same internal neurological and biological
processes that occur naturally during dream sleep, a time when unprocessed information
left over from the day's activities is processed and 'filed away' thus 'clearing the slate' for the next day.
Dr. Shapiro has been unwavering in her encouragement and support of research that will
shed light on the processes that produce results and will validate and
continue to expand the application of this treatment beyond PTSD
treatment. With recent advances in technology,
studies out of Harvard University have begun to indicate that there appears to
be some evidence that the original theory was headed in the right
direction. Brain chemistry and activity during REM sleep and during EMDRÒ
treatment appear to have many similarities. As such, further studies to
explore and expand on these findings are underway and more are in the planning
stages. All that said, the answer for now is: no one actually
knows for sure, but the elusive answer to that question seems closer now than ever before.
Essentially, there are two categories of trauma,
Simple and Complex.
Simple trauma can be looked at
in terms of a one-time, memorable, event such as an auto or airplane accident,
natural disaster, criminal victimization or a significant war-zone incident.
These experiences are sometimes labeled as “Big ‘T’” traumas.
Complex trauma usually
involves a prolonged exposure to a physically and/ or emotionally unhealthy
environment in which the traumatizing events and experiences are ongoing over
a period of time, usually months or years, and may have been eventually
normalized (seen as “This is the way all the world really is and this is how
I fit into it.”). These
situations may include physical, sexual and/ or emotional abuse, neglect or
abandonment within the family, peer or social situations.
These experiences are sometimes labeled as “small ’t’” or
environmental traumas.
These "t" events may
integrate into one's life and have a negative impact on self-esteem. When a person normalizes
these “t” experiences, belittling, abusive or otherwise negative treatment from
others may be tolerated or even sought out, which only serves to reinforce a
distorted and poor sense of self-worth.
Regardless of the origin, each
type of trauma, when unhealed, can result in a distorted, usually negative, self-image,
a pattern of mood swings, sleep disorders, and/or behavioral disorders
including the arenas of eating, sexuality and violence.
It is not uncommon to see such persons also struggle with chemical
dependency issues that may arise out of attempting to self-medicate away their
uncomfortable feelings.
Unsatisfying/unrewarding relationships,
social and intimate, are also often reported by these individuals.
Although many “T” problems
and symptoms can be rapidly resolved, it is not uncommon for a “T” event
to re-activate old and unresolved or ‘hibernating’ “t” problem(s) that
then can make symptom resolution a more complex and a longer-term
process.
In
all, the symptoms of emotional trauma, though troublesome or inconvenient at best
and emotionally crippling at worst, are the normal consequences of exposure to an
emotionally or physically unhealthy and unsafe incident or environment.
Most
commonly prescribed medications do not cause problems with EMDRÒ treatment.
In cases where this may be a potential problem, a consultation with the
prescribing physician may work to resolve the problem. There have been instances when some persons taking certain
medications during treatment that had gone well and then successfully
concluded, later found a return of some symptoms when the medication was
discontinued.
This seems to represent a situation where the learning done in the
presence of a medication was only OK/ valid as long as the medication was present.
A subsequent brief re-exposure to EMDRÒ
treatment without the medications involved has been shown to have provided the
bridge to re-establishing all the
interrupted gains/ improvements.
BACK
TO THE TOP
You
are always in control during an EMDRÒ
session. Your
active involvement and feedback is essential to to the process.
EMDRÒ
is not a trance/ hypnotic state and you are fully aware and conscious of all
that happens in a session. You actually have more direct involvement in choice
of topic/ focus issue, starting and stopping the process, the speed of processing and in the manner of resolution
than in most other therapy approaches.
It
is important to know whether or not your provider has been trained through an EMDRIA
approved program and has received EMDRIA
Certification.
A check of the EMDRIA web site
will provide a listing of appropriately trained and certified persons.
The pioneer and foremost training organization that has exemplified the standards for training in EMDRÒ, the EMDR
Institute, and more recently a growing number of other training resources,
Universities and colleges have trained more than 30,000 clinicians world-wide and
will train continue to train approximately 6,000 more clinicians every
year.
There are currently two levels in the Institute's trainings.
Both levels are required for a clinician to have the adequate
foundation to effectively provide EMDRÒ
to
the widest range of clients and their problems. The EMDR
Institute will also provide referrals upon request.
