What is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a unique type of psychotherapy that allows people to access their innate healing ability. Research in trauma therapy has identified EMDR as one of the best processes for healing trauma. 

When we experience trauma, our brains store those memories with the same sensations and perceptions we had when the trauma occurred. EMDR makes it possible to access past trauma memories while present in the here and now. 

 This “dual awareness” gives our brains the chance to reprocess what happened in real-time, which wasn’t possible when the trauma occurred. Reprocessing ultimately leads to healing from the physical and emotional symptoms of disturbing life events. EMDR has also proven successful in treating anxiety, addiction, depression, and stress.

Here’s a lovely little video by the School of Life that provides a great primer.

The Secrets of EMDR Therapy and How It Can Help You

The fundamental idea behind psychotherapy is that we tend to grow mentally unwell because we haven’t been able to think with sufficient clarity about the difficulties in our past, typically in our distant childhoods. EMDR therapy is a fascinating tool that can help us process these difficulties, move past them and continue with our adult lives.