What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy that was developed in the late 1980’s and was first used with combat veterans with PTSD, but has since become useful in addressing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and trauma.
The initial stages of EMDR are similar to most therapies and involves taking an attachment and trauma history, as well as developing grounding and coping skills.
During the processing stage of EMDR, you think about the issue or traumatic memory and the negative cognition that accompanies it and we do a number of “sets” of dual-awareness stimulation (listening to alternating beeps using a headset or holding buzzers in each hand.) It is useful to use the metaphor of a train journey: it’s like you’re sitting in the carriage of a train, here in my office, and if upsetting feelings come up it’s just like the scenery outside of a train. All you have to do is notice it and let it go by. Your brain lays the tracks, and takes you where it needs to go. There are 100 billion neurons in the human brain, and this process allows you to make connections and process “stuck” memories or events. Just like other parts of your body, your brain orients itself towards healing.