Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on healing individuals from emotional distress or symptoms that have resulted from a disturbing life experience. EMDR, as with most therapy approaches, focuses on the individual’s present concerns. EMDR works to heal the brain from emotional trauma much like the body heals from physical injury. This approach believes past emotionally charged experiences are overly influencing your present emotions, sensations, and thoughts about yourself. As an example: “Do you ever feel worthless although you know you are a worthwhile person?” EMDR processing helps you break through the emotional blocks that are keeping you from living an adaptive, emotionally healthy life. With the aid of EMDR therapy, an individual can remove the mental blocks preventing them from getting better, resulting in a more beneficial and therapeutic experience.

EMDR uses rapid sets of eye movements to help you update disturbing experiences, much like what occurs when we sleep. During sleep, we alternate between regular sleep and REM (rapid eye movement). This sleep pattern helps you process things that are troubling you. EMDR replicates this sleep pattern by alternating between sets of eye movements and brief reports about what you are noticing. This alternating process helps you update your memories to a healthier present perspective. For a more detailed explanation please visit EMDR Institute, Inc.