EMDR

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) was developed by Francine Shapiro in 1987 to effectively treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The mind has an incredible ability to heal itself naturally, much like the body does. A significant part of this natural coping mechanism occurs during sleep, particularly during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. While several mechanisms are thought to be at play when using EMDR, the processes that occur during REM sleep help us understand what happens and why it is beneficial for various mental health issues.

During REM sleep, there is increased activity in brain regions associated with emotional processing. Dreaming, which occurs during REM sleep, is also thought to be linked to the brain's natural processing of emotional or distressing events. In EMDR, we can deliberately activate this natural healing process while awake. By recalling a distressing or traumatic event and then activating these processes, the brain naturally begins to emotionally process these events, leading to a long-term reduction in the emotional intensity associated with these memories. This process also allows us to reprocess these memories in a more helpful way, promoting desired behaviors such as increased confidence or assertiveness.

Since its development, there has been growing evidence supporting the effectiveness of EMDR. It is now recommended as a first-line treatment for PTSD alongside Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). EMDR has also been successfully used to treat a variety of other mental health issues and continues to gain support for its effectiveness through ongoing research.