EMDR - the Champions League of trauma therapy 

EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapeutic treatment originally developed to alleviate the stress associated with traumatic memories.

U.S. psychologist Francine Shapiro developed EMDR based on rapid eye movements between 1987 and 1991. She later incorporated other stimulation techniques into the method herself and also added cognitive behavioral therapy approaches.

The adaptive information processing model assumes that EMDR therapy facilitates access to and processing of traumatic memories and other stressful life experiences in order to fully process them.

After successful treatment with EMDR therapy, perceived stress is alleviated, negative beliefs are reformulated, and physiological arousal is reduced. During EMDR therapy, the client engages with emotionally disturbing situations in short, sequential doses while simultaneously focusing on external stimulation. Therapist-directed eye movements or bilateral tapping are the most commonly used external stimuli, but a variety of other stimuli, such as audio stimulation, are also frequently used.

Inventor Francine Shapiro hypothesized that EMDR therapy facilitates access to the traumatic memory network so that information processing is enhanced, creating new associations between traumatic memory and more adaptive memories or information. These new associations are thought to lead to complete information processing, new learning, elimination of emotional distress, and development of cognitive insights.

How does that work?

EMDR therapy uses a three-part approach:

1.)Tthe past events that laid the foundation for the dysfunction are processed by making new associative connections with adaptive information.

2.) The current circumstances that trigger the stress are targeted and internal and external triggers are desensitized.

3.) Imagined templates of future events are included to help the client acquire the skills necessary for adaptive functioning.

Depending on the severity of the experience, however, a person's already existing resources are specifically worked on before this process, or these are first introduced using a wide variety of NLP techniques.

What all can be processed with EMDR?

This method of therapy can be used to deal with a wide variety of problems. Most often, clients come with an acute symptom. This can range from regular migraines, to back pain, to a conscious desire to process a known severe trauma.

There are very specific integrative treatment protocols for the following specialties:

- Protocol for phopias

- Protocol for anxiety

- Protocol for addictions

- Protocol for severe trauma (accidents, disasters, sexual abuse, violence)

- and many more

In the therapeutic procedure it is of utmost importance that the client trusts the therapist completely. If this trust does not materialize, it is advisable to look for another therapist, because the success of this work is much easier when there is a relationship of trust.

EMDR heals trauma sequelae quickly and efficiently

EMDR is virtually the Champions League of trauma therapy. Recognized in therapeutic circles as best in class, the technique is the fastest and most effective. Therapy with EMDR has been shown to require 40 percent fewer treatment hours than other proven methods such as talk therapy. The effectiveness of this method is well proven by many scientific studies.

When it comes to working through your memories so that they no longer hold you back from the good things in life, EMDR therapy is my recommendation.v