Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a type of psychotherapy that is used to treat a range of mental health conditions, particularly trauma-related disorders. Developed in the late 1980s, EMDR is a relatively new form of psychotherapy that has gained popularity in recent years due to its effectiveness in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The therapy is based on the idea that traumatic experiences can lead to a disruption of normal information processing, which can lead to the development of PTSD symptoms. EMDR is designed to help patients process traumatic memories and reprocess them in a way that allows for a reduction in the intensity and frequency of PTSD symptoms.
EMDR therapy is based on the theory that traumatic experiences can become “stuck” in the brain and can prevent a person from processing them in a healthy way. This can lead to the development of PTSD symptoms, such as intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and avoidance behaviours. EMDR works by targeting these traumatic memories and helping the patient to reprocess them in a way that is less distressing.
During an EMDR session, the therapist will guide the patient through a series of eye movements while the patient focuses on a traumatic memory. This is thought to activate the brain’s natural information processing system, allowing the patient to reprocess the traumatic memory in a healthy way. The eye movements may be accompanied by other forms of bilateral stimulation, such as tapping or sounds.
EMDR therapy typically involves eight phases, which include history taking, preparation, assessment, desensitisation, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. During the desensitisation phase, the therapist will guide the patient through the eye movements while the patient focuses on the traumatic memory. This phase is designed to reduce the intensity of the traumatic memory and make it less distressing. In the installation phase, the therapist will help the patient to replace the negative emotions associated with the traumatic memory with positive ones. The body scan phase involves checking the patient’s body for any remaining tension or discomfort, while the closure phase involves helping the patient to feel calm and relaxed.
EMDR therapy involves a number of different techniques, including:
EMDR therapy is primarily used to treat trauma-related disorders, such as PTSD. However, it has also been used to treat a range of other mental health conditions, including:
EMDR therapy is a relatively new form of psychotherapy that has shown great promise in treating trauma-related disorders, particularly PTSD. The therapy is based on the idea that traumatic experiences can disrupt normal information processing in the brain, leading to the development of PTSD symptoms. EMDR therapy is designed to help patients reprocess traumatic memories in a healthy way, allowing for a reduction in the intensity and frequency of PTSD symptoms.
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