What is EDMR?

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a client-centered model for treating trauma and phobias. EMDR has been extensively researched and uses the client's own natural healing mechanisms to effect change. EMDR can help clients to feel more confident and have a better view of themselves by releasing the negative beliefs they have about themselves, for example, “I am bad, I am unlovable, I am unworthy, I am defective etc.”

When something upsetting happens to us and we go to sleep feeling terrible, we often wake up and everything seems a little better. This is our brain's information processing happening correctly. The brain sorts through the information, makes sense of it, and stores it for future use. However, sometimes the event gets stuck and is stored with all the negative emotions like fear, embarrassment, and rejection, along with the negative beliefs we have about ourselves that are attached to the event. When new situations in our lives happen that remind us of this disturbing event, the negative feelings and beliefs about the self that are attached to the original event get triggered. This can result in mental health issues like performance anxiety, intense fears of rejection or abandonment, depression, or anxiety.

Using dual focus of attention and bilateral body stimulation, EDMR activates the brain's information processing system and reprocesses the old disturbing memories, allowing the brain to integrate the memory in a more adaptive and useful way. This can result in reduction or elimination of the unpleasant emotional response and negative beliefs attached to the disturbing event.

Children are especially vulnerable to adverse events of this nature because they do not yet have the experience to make sense of the traumatic events. These events can run the gamut from an embarrassing soccer tryout to a serious violation from a trusted family member. Years later, this can result in adult responses such as a significant performance anxiety interfering in your ability to move forward in your career or an inability to feel safe and connected in any intimate partner relationship.