EMDR is a trauma focused approach developed by Francine Shapiro in the 1980’s based on the understanding that the brain naturally processes experiences and memories. When trauma affects an individual, the memory can be mal-adaptively stored, which can cause symptoms such as panic attacks, heightened anxiety, hypervigilance, nightmares and PTSD. The definition of the word “trauma” in this context is any shaming or shocking/life threatening experience based on the perspective of the age and person experiencing the event. A traumatic event can get stuck in an individual causing intrusive thoughts/cognitively, or physically in their body as in shaking or nausea. The pace of the treatment is up to the client.
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EMDR is not talk therapy, and does not require the individual to relive the trauma. Instead it uses bilateral stimulation (BLS) either through eye movement, tappers/buzzers held in the hands, a light bar or manually tapping alternately on top of the knees or on the arms. This reprocessing of the memory allows for the memory to be stored in the brain with less reactivity and thereby a reduction in symptoms. EMDR is a three-pronged approach processing past childhood trauma, looking at the present triggers, and then looking at the future goal or handling of potentially similar or triggering events.
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