Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is highly effective for those who have experienced traumatic or highly stressful events. Learn how its application makes the psychotherapeutic approach even more useful.
What does EMDR consist of?
EMDR is a technique used during psychotherapy interviews and is aimed at resolving traumatic or highly stressful events that cause distress and pain to the person who experienced them. It is a structured intervention protocol; the therapist guides, step by step, the person in describing the memory and at the same time the person is asked to follow, with the eyes, the movement of the therapist's fingers from right to left.
This visual stimulation allows the brain to "unfreeze" the bad memory and reprocess it more effectively so that it is no longer painful or emotionally disturbing. During this technique, one remains alert and present at all times; by the end of EMDR therapy, the person begins to feel that the experience he or she has had is part of the past.
How long does it take to process a traumatic experience?
The duration of an EMDR treatment depends on the type of event and the amount of stressful situations and the perpetuation of these over time. It can range from 4 to 5 sessions to more than 10. A person who has been in therapy for some time and decides to try the EMDR technique can engage in it either within the current course or uncoupled from it with a practitioner who has obtained specific training.