Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR
“The past affects the present, even without our being aware of it.” – Francine Shapiro
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), developed by Francine Shapiro, is a specialized form of psychotherapy designed to help individuals heal from emotional distress caused by disturbing life experiences or traumatic memories.
EMDR facilitates the accessing and processing of these memories to support adaptive resolution. During treatment, a technique known as bilateral stimulation (BLS) is used—typically involving eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones—while the individual briefly focuses on distressing material. This dual attention process is believed to enhance the brain’s natural capacity to process and integrate traumatic information.
EMDR therapy follows an eight-phase protocol to guide the treatment process:
1. History Taking
The therapist gathers a comprehensive history and identifies target memories that will be addressed in therapy. This phase includes assessing readiness and developing a treatment plan.
2. Preparation
The therapist explains the EMDR process, establishes trust and rapport, and teaches grounding and stabilization techniques to ensure the client feels safe and resourced before beginning memory processing.
3. Assessment
The specific target memory is identified, including associated negative beliefs, desired positive beliefs, emotions, and physical sensations. Baseline measures of distress and belief strength are established.
4. Desensitization
The client focuses on the target memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation. This phase continues until the distress associated with the memory decreases significantly.
5. Installation
The client strengthens and integrates a positive belief to replace the original negative cognition, using bilateral stimulation to reinforce this new perspective.
6. Body Scan
The therapist guides the client in noticing any residual physical tension or discomfort related to the memory. If present, these sensations are processed with BLS until resolved.
7. Closure
Each session ends with a return to emotional stability. The therapist ensures the client leaves the session feeling grounded, whether or not the memory has been fully processed.
8. Reevaluation
At the start of each new session, the therapist reviews previous targets and assesses current responses to ensure lasting change and determine next steps in treatment.
Following successful EMDR therapy, individuals often experience a significant reduction in emotional distress, physiological reactivity, and negative beliefs—leading to greater psychological and physiological resilience and a restored sense of well-being.