What is EMDR and How Can it Help Me?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapeutic approach developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro, in the 1980's as a treatment for post-traumatic stress (PTSD). EMDR has been shown to help put disturbing memories into the past so they no longer upset you. EMDR is named after the eye movements, but researchers and therapists have found that other types of bilateral stimulation, such as audio tones, are just as effective in helping people move through and beyond difficult memories and emotions. EMDR therapy is much more than just bilateral stimulation, but a structured process of working through all the elements of traumatic memories. There are many neuropsychological theories about how EMDR works, although this mechanism is still unclear; however, a tremendous amount of research using brain imaging is presently being conducted to better understand how and why EMDR can be so effective. Over 30.00 clinicians around the world have been trained in EMDR, and many leading health centers are using EMDR as a component of treatment. For example, the Veterans Adminstration (VA) has approved and is using EMDR to treat veterans with PTSD on a regular basis. The Menninger Clinic, the Renfrew Center, and the Meadows also incorporate EMDR in their treatment.
Dr. Becker listens carefully and respectfully to her patients and considers what they say (and what they don't say) to be very important. While talking about things is crucial, Dr. Becker has discovered over many years of experience, that if you ONLY talk ABOUT a problem, it is likely that nothing will really change. So, she works in ways that have been found to be particularly effective at facilitating healing and growth. Dr. Becker has helped many patients, both adults and children, overcome PTSD and other problems such as panic attacks, phobias, and social phobias with EMDR. Both EMDR and Clinical Hypnosis tend to "go deeper" than simply talking about problems, and often help people get better more quickly and efficiently than using only talk therapies. Whomever you decide on as a therapist, it is important that if s/he uses EMDR and/or Clinical Hypnosis, they should have extensive training and experience in whatever approach they use.
" The speed at which change occurs during EMDR condradicts the traditional notion of time as essential for psychological healing. EMDR has integrated elements from many different schools of psychotherapy into its protocols, making EMDR applicable to a variety of clinical populations."
---Bessel van der Kolk, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Boston University Medical School
- http://emdr.com (EMDR Institute)
- http://emdria.org (EMDR International Organization)
- http://www.childtrauma.com
- http://www.sandiegoemdr.com
- http://www.april-steele.ca
