EMDR Therapy, also know by its long name – Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing – was first formally taught as a therapeutic approach in the early 1990’s. Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., is credited with the discovery and (ongoing) articulation of EMDR Therapy and she continues to develop the theory behind this fascinating form of psychotherapy.
The theory – Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) suggests the each of us has an inborn capacity to appropriately receive – process and integrate information (viz. life & life’s Experiences) that we encounter in our daily lives. When the system is functioning fully – we take in what life offers us – the good, bad and the ugly – process it, integrate it and it becomes a part of our life story. We can use the information to help us grow and adapt to the new things life sends our way.
Sometimes, for some people, the Adaptive Information Processing System may become temporarily overwhelmed and cannot perform its critical function. This may happen for a variety of reasons (trauma, stress, loss etc). When this happens, an experience or event or emotional state of mind can become stuck – unable to move to its proper place (viz. part of one’s life story and history).
EMDR Therapy seems to help us release the stuck material from being held improperly in our memory system. When this happens it can then become part of one’s story and history rather than a source of emotional pain and symptoms.
Over the years since its introduction, EMDR Therapy has been applied to a variety of clinical and non clinical situations with remarkable results. Although it has a large base of research showing it effective for PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, there is a much smaller body of research for other disorders and conditions. As the research on EMDR Therapy continues we will have a better idea just where it is most (and least) effective.
One interesting application for EMDR is in the area of Performance Enhancement or Peak Performance. Here EMDR is used not for a “trauma treatment” but to remove the mental / emotional obstacles that might impede an athlete, performer of business professional.
Dr. Shapiro’s Books:
EMDR: The Breakthrough “Eye Movement” Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma – 1998
Another recently developed adaptation of EMDR Therapy is the IADC or Induced After Death Communication. This technique, pioneered in1995 by Veteran’s Administration Psychologist, Allan L. Botkin, Psy.D, uses a variant of the EMDR Therapy procedures to induce a state of mind where the client or patient becomes receptive to the phenomenon commonly referred to as the ADC or After Death Communication. This term was coined by Guggenheim and Guggenheim in their book Hello from Heaven and shares common ground with the term NDE or Near Death Experience written about by Raymond Moody, MD in his book Life After Life. It may sound far-fetched however there are a growing number of people who have been helped by this method. Dr. Botkin’s instructions suggest the following: “We do not suggest a source for the phenomenon. It is the act of perceiving the connection that results in remarkable healing of grief and traumatic loss.”
For more information visit – www.induced-adc.com
EMDR Therapy is not considered a “talk” type therapy. EMDR Therapy sessions are typically 90 – 100 minutes long. EMDR Therapy is often short term therapy with some cases experiencing rapid resolution of symptoms that were resistant to other traditional forms of psychotherapy.
EMDR Therapy is not for everyone. Like any psychotherapy it can release strong emotions and physical sensations. Due to the rapid nature of this therapy these releases may be of greater intensity than one has been accustomed to in talk based psychotherapy.
For more information visit – www.emdrnetwork.com