Relieve psychological stress & PTSD with EMDR therapy. Learn how this interactive psychotherapy helps process trauma for lasting relief. Effective & proven
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an interactive psychotherapy technique used to relieve psychological stress. It is a treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
During EMDR sessions, you briefly relive traumatic or triggering experiences while the therapist directs your eye movements.
Recalling distressing events may feel less upsetting when attention is diverted, allowing exposure to memories without a strong psychological response.
People with traumatic memories or PTSD may benefit most from EMDR therapy.
It can be helpful for those who find it hard to talk about past experiences.
Although evidence is limited, EMDR is also being explored for:
EMDR is divided into eight phases and usually requires about 12 sessions.
Your therapist reviews your history, discusses your trauma, and identifies target memories.
You learn coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness to manage stress.
Specific memories and their physical or emotional components are identified.
You focus on negative thoughts or images while following the therapist’s bilateral stimulation (eye movements, taps, or tones). After each set, you report any new thoughts or feelings, and the therapist helps you refocus or shift to another memory.
This information is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice.
NIH: EMDR overview Mayo Clinic: EMDR basics
If you become distressed, your therapist will help you return to the present before addressing another traumatic memory. Over time, the distress linked to specific thoughts, images, or memories often lessens.
In the final phase, you and your therapist will each review the progress made during treatment.
Multiple controlled studies suggest that EMDR therapy can reduce PTSD symptoms and is listed as a strongly recommended option by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
A 2012 study of 22 people reported that 77 % of participants with psychotic disorder and PTSD experienced significant improvements in hallucinations, delusions, anxiety, and depression, without symptom worsening during treatment.
An earlier study comparing EMDR therapy with standard prolonged-exposure therapy found EMDR more effective and associated with fewer drop-outs; both groups showed reductions in traumatic-stress symptoms.
Small trials also indicate that EMDR’s benefits can persist. A 2004 trial followed participants for several months after either standard care (SC) or EMDR; EMDR produced faster symptom reduction and maintained advantages at three- and six-month follow-ups.
Concerning depression, a study of 32 in-patients found that 68 % of the EMDR group achieved full remission and showed greater overall symptom reduction than controls; larger studies are needed.
EMDR therapy may ease trauma and PTSD symptoms and could also help with anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.
Some people prefer it to medications that can cause unwanted effects; others use it alongside prescribed drugs.
If you think EMDR therapy might help, consult a licensed therapist.
This information is educational and not a substitute for professional medical advice.
