What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapeutic method that was developed by psychologist Shapiro (1989, 2001) that helps resolve symptoms resulting from disturbing and unresolved life experiences. This therapy is based on the beliefs, that symptoms arise when disturbing events are poorly processed by the brain. These symptoms can be eliminated when disturbing events can be fully processed and integrated by the brain.

Shapiro further believes that a negative sense of self, reactive emotional responses and self-sabatoging behaviors are also indications of inadequately processed material, and that processing disturbing life experiences fundamental to current dysfunctions will change them, allowing new self-perceptions, emotions and healthier adaptive behaviors. EMDR can also target present day experiences to integrate new information into memory to overcome developmental and skill deficits.

 How does EMDR Work?

To date, no one knows exactly how any form of psychotherapy works in the brain. We do know that when a person is overwhelmed their brain will "freeze" that experience and may create a negative emotional response along with images, sounds, and smells. This event seems to "get stuck" in the nervous system so that when remembering the event the person may feel as if they are going through it all over again. These "stuck" memories interfere with the way a person responds to their world and how they connect to people.

EMDR Treats the Following Issues:

~ Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)      
~ Anxiety Disorders
~ Complicated Grief
~ Life Stress
~ Personality Disorders

What OCWC Clients Have Said About EMDR:

" EMDR helped me regain the confidence, personal power and just plain happiness that I had lost being a prisoner to the trauma memories and flashbacks."

"EMDR made the past experiences that I was constantly thinking about a distant memory." 

 Can EMDR Help My Child?

EMDR can be used with both young and older children and teens. Case reports indicate that EMDR has been used successfully with preverbal children, as well as, with teens who do not want to talk out loud about the upsetting issues. As with any intervention, the younger the child or the more avoidant the child, the more there is a challenge to find ways to engage them and focus their attention on the problem at hand. It is helpful for parents and professionals to explain that EMDR is a way to get over troubling thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. EMDR has  been used to help children deal with traumatic events, depression, anxiety, phobias, and other behavioral problems.

The EMDR process is different for each child, because the healing process is guided from within. Some children report that EMDR is relaxing and have an immediate positive response. Other children may feel tired at the end of a session, and the benefit from the treatment comes in the days to follow. One ten-year-old wore a body cast for a year and was preoccupied with injury, illness , and death due to a traumatic accident. After EMDR, she began crying tears of joy and stated, "I'm so happy, it really is over and I am strong." Another five-year-old boy who had behavioral problems and worked with the therapy, tried EMDR and stated, " Why didn't do this with me before?" And then another eight-year-old boy who kept having nightmares stated, " They just popped out of my head, the monsters are gone." Other children say little at all, but their behavior changes and parents state: " Things are back on track."