Introduction to EMDR

If you have not heard of EMDR before, not to worry, I had no idea what it was at first either. It stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR is a psychotherapy for PTSD. EMDR can help you process upsetting memories, thoughts, and feelings related to the trauma. By processing these experiences, you can get relief from PTSD symptoms.

How Does It Work?

After trauma, people with PTSD often have trouble making sense of what happened to them. EMDR helps you process the trauma, which can allow you to start to heal. In EMDR, you will pay attention to a back-and-forth movement or sound while you call to mind the upsetting memory until shifts occur in the way that you experience that memory and more information from the past is processed. Although EMDR is an effective treatment for PTSD, there is disagreement about how it works. Some research shows that the back and forth movement is an important part of treatment, but other research shows the opposite.

This gives you a general idea of what EMDR is and we will get into this more as we go along. I didn't do the back and forth with the light, I held the probes, one in each hand, closed my eyes and we processed the trauma that way. For me, the light would be too distracting because knowing me I would be looking at the decorating behind the light thinking how I would like to rearrange the furniture or something. Kidding but I can go squirrel too easily. I would like to try it though.