What is EMDR?

EMDR Stands for “Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing” and is a therapeutic approach that helps people overcome traumatic memories and feelings.  This may not necessarily be a big event (or a big “T” trauma) but experiences may have been a series of events (little “t” traumas), or repeated messages that people are exposed to and were not helpful or harmful.  For example, someone may come to me alwys feeling “worthless” because of bullying experienced in secondary school.  When people come to see me in a session, often they tell me they understand what is happening and “know” they shouldn’t feel a certain way, but they still “feel” badly and or disturbed and no matter what they have tried - the emotional resonance just will not lift no matter what they try.

This is where EMDR comes in as an approach.  EMDR can help move the feeling and sensations in the body that are upsetting and update them to not continue to impact them in their day to day lives.  This is based on looking at the past events, beliefs and memories from a new perspective with a trained professional using the EMDR approach. 

Below is an introduction video on EMDR courtesy of the EMDR International Association

EMDRIA on this webpage explains the EMDR therapy process