EMDR -

I was helping some one else here on PC to have a better understanding of EMDR and when I was through I thought others might benefit from the INFO that I gathered.... so here it is - Good Luck.

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EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

EMDR, a remarkable treatment method discovered 14 years ago, currently used by over 40,000 therapists worldwide, can heal the symptoms of trauma, as well as other emotional conditions and dramatically enhance performance and creativity. Extensive scientific research has shown that it is the most effective and rapid method for healing PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Unique to EMDR is its use of bilateral stimulation, either left/right eye movement, sound or tactile stimulation, which repeatedly activates the opposite sides of the brain. This helps the neurophysiological system, the basis of the mind/body connection, to free itself of blockages and reconnect itself.

EMDR therapists have successfully healed over a million people suffering from PTSD stemming from serious accidents, rape, muggings, the murder or suicide of a loved one, terrorism, torture, military combat and natural disasters in as little as one to three extended sessions, as opposed to the months and years other treatments usually require to treat this condition. Although considerably more time is necessary, EMDR is also remarkably effective in the treatment of adults who have been traumatized by ongoing mental, physical and sexual abuse in childhood.

A performer or athlete suffering from performance anxiety and loss of confidence show the same neurological effects found in those suffering a traumatic event. EMDR resolves these performance inhibitions in the same rapid, effective manner as with trauma and achieves astonishing results in performance and creative enhancement with athletes, actors, performers, artists, and writers.

EMDR has direct application to almost every human situation, including phobias ( social anxiety, fear of public speaking or flying), depression, dissociation, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), overeating, anger management, low self-esteem and body distortions, as well as bodily manifestations of stress (head, stomach and backaches). EMDR is also a valuable tool in addressing the family traumas of divorce, illness or death of a loved one, financial crisis, alcohol and drug abuse by parent or child and family violence.

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Eight Phases of Treatment - EMDR

The first phase is a history taking session during which the therapist assesses the client's readiness for EMDR and develops a treatment plan. Client and therapist identify possible targets for EMDR processing. These include recent distressing events, current situations that elicit emotional disturbance, related historical incidents, and the development of specific skills and behaviors that will be needed by the client in future situations.

During the second phase of treatment, the therapist ensures that the client has adequate methods of handling emotional distress and good coping skills, and that the client is in a relatively stable state. If further stabilization is required, or if additional skills are needed, therapy focuses on providing these. The client is then able to use stress reducing techniques whenever necessary, during or between sessions. However, one goal is not to need these techniques once therapy is complete.

In phase three through six, a target is identified and processed using EMDR procedures. These involve the client identifying the most vivid visual image related to the memory (if available), a negative belief about self, related emotions and body sensations. The client also identifies a preferred positive belief. The validity of the positive belief is rated, as is the intensity of the negative emotions.

After this, the client is instructed to focus on the image, negative thought, and body sensations while simultaneously moving his/her eyes back and forth following the therapist's fingers as they move across his/her field of vision for 20-30 seconds or more, depending upon the need of the client. Although eye movements are the most commonly used external stimulus, therapists often use auditory tones, tapping, or other types of tactile stimulation. The kind of dual attention and the length of each set is customized to the need of the client. The client is instructed to just notice whatever happens. After this, the clinician instructs the client to let his/her mind go blank and to notice whatever thought, feeling, image, memory, or sensation comes to mind. Depending upon the client's report the clinician will facilitate the next focus of attention. In most cases a client-directed association process is encouraged. This is repeated numerous times throughout the session. If the client becomes distressed or has difficulty with the process, the therapist follows established procedures to help the client resume processing. When the client reports no distress related to the targeted memory, the clinician asks him/her to think of the preferred positive belief that was identified at the beginning of the session, or a better one if it has emerged, and to focus on the incident, while simultaneously engaging in the eye movements. After several sets, clients generally report increased confidence in this positive belief. The therapist checks with the client regarding body sensations. If there are negative sensations, these are processed as above. If there are positive sensations, they are further enhanced.

In phase seven, closure, the therapist asks the client to keep a journal during the week to document any related material that may arise and reminds the client of the self-calming activities that were mastered in phase two.

The next session begins with phase eight, re-evaluation of the previous work, and of progress since the previous session. EMDR treatment ensures processing of all related historical events, current incidents that elicit distress, and future scenarios that will require different responses. The overall goal is produce the most comprehensive and profound treatment effects in the shortest period of time, while simultaneously maintaining a stable client within a balanced system.

After EMDR processing, clients generally report that the emotional distress related to the memory has been eliminated, or greatly decreased, and that they have gained important cognitive insights. Importantly, these emotional and cognitive changes usually result in spontaneous behavioral and personal change, which are further enhanced with standard EMDR procedures.

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Francine Shapiro, Ph.D.
* She is the originator and developer of EMDR
* Senior Research Fellow at the Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto, California.
* She serves as Executive Director of the EMDR Institute in Pacific Grove, California
* President Emeritus of the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs

FRANCINE SHAPIRO, Ph.D.
PO Box 750, Watsonville, CA 95077
Tel: (831) 761-1040 Fax: (831) 761-1204
Email: inst@emdr.com

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LoVe,
Rhapsody - (((( hugs ))))

Thannks Rhapsody for the great info on EMDR. EMDR was the catalyst in my healing from horrible child abuse . I was suffering PTSD and it helped my symptoms immediately with only session. I will be ending my therapy at the end of the year, and I truely believe that if I didn't do EMDR, I would be in therapy for years and years. EMDR helped speed up my recovery. It was very hard work, but it was so worth it.

My T has helped several hundred people suffering from PTSD and all but 2 cases he has had. I think it is very important to go to someone who has experience and is certified with level 2 .

I didn't believe it would help me, I was very sceptical about it, but now I am a believer. It won't help everyone, just like everything else, but it can really help a lot of people.

EMDR.com is a good website that explains it even more.

I still use it today..... my T showed me how one can use it at home or in a public place to remain clam when distress arises - all one has to do is to squeeze their firsts together gently.... always starting and going left to right - just like one does with the eyes.
It is also GREAT for helping one fall a sleep or to get back to sleep when they are awaken in the night.


LoVe,
Rhapsody - ((( hugs )))

My T says he does it himself too, but he wouldn't show me how when I asked because I was trying not to have it done to me. I was scared of it the first time and didn't want to have him do it to me. Maybe I should ask him again. ;-)

Yes, for many this is a great addition to treatment! I am far too hypnotizable to utilize it though EMDR is the eye movement. I think what you are doing with your fists is a pre-determined calming coping method your T added for you to use... I use a marble TC.

I am just starting treatment for PTSD symptoms using this therapeutic technique. I could not do the eye movement, the Trauma Therapist is trained in level II EMDR, and so are my Group Therapists, they can utilize tools beyond the following of left to right eye movement with tools like light bars, and tapping. We are experimenting with a device, the name escapes me at the moment, but it uses tones, and you have padded devices in your hand which vibrate in sequence with the tones, and what I find helpfuk s you dont have to have your eyes open, you are processing by just listening to the tones abd feeling the fibrations in your hands. Its almost like a form of biofeedback or nuerostimulation tecniques combined. I could not do the tapping, because of the past physical abuse I had an abreaction where the Therapist became the abuser from my past and I felt his tapping me on the knees was feeling like a physical assault and well, I reacted to it as such..

I just have started this, so I cant give any comments on the effectiveness, but the fact that I dont have to keep my eyes open while I am trying to process the image is helpful...but what I dont like is the quantative value they try to get you to place on our feelings.like 1-10 from 10 being unabreable to 1 being neutraul..yada..yada..it dosent feel right..almost like your grading your reactions ..like they do a pain scale..I guess it helps the clinician understand where your at with it...but as a patient dealing with an emotional trauma..its rather confusing to adapt an emotion to a number..and be graded on it as you are processing something so horrid..

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_Sky said:
EMDR is the eye movement. I think what you are doing with your fists is a pre-determined calming coping method your T added for you to use... I use a marble TC.

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NO please note that the fist squeezing is just a different type of EMDR, for while this practice was originally started with using the eyes other technics have since been developed:

(from the article above)
Although eye movements are the most commonly used external stimulus, therapists often use auditory tones, tapping, or other types of tactile stimulation.
..... always going from left to right, my T even used an electronic pulse device that was placed under a sittings person upper thigh.

LoVe,
Rhapsody - ((( hugs )))

Hi Evangelista,

I know you say you can't comment if it is working on your PTSD, but has it helped the memory you have become less intense?

I didn't like the assemement thing with numbers either. It is too hard to assess yourself in the middle of things, but I tried. It was easier to tell the begginning of the session from the end , but it was hard to tell after each set for me.
I am glad they have other techiniques , I know my T does other ways too, especailly with kids who can't concentrate very long. It was hard for me to concentrate on watching his finger and thinking of the troubling memory at the same time, and I am a musician, I have good coordination too. LOL
Good luck on the work you are doing. I hope it works for you like it did for me. I am a different person now because of it.

BUMP - for Lucky13

I am starting again EMDR in my next appointment in two weeks. I al little nervous, it has been a year since my last session of that. But I trust my T and everything thing should be okay.
It is just so hard to think of the tramatic thoughts while trying to keep your eyes on his fingers.

Does your T really still use his finger? - my T uses the electronic pulse pads that go under your mid upper thigh while sitting in a comfortable chair.... maybe talk to your T about this approach, it makes therapy so much more pleasant and successful.


LoVe,
Rhapsody - ((( hugs )))

I should ask him, I know last time he used his fingers. I think the way you mentioned would be more pleasant. There is something about having to follow his fingers, maybe I don't like him to be in control or something.
He is very experienced with EMDR (over 10 years) and is level 2 certified, plus works with a lot of kids, so hopefully he can do it the other way. But there is more than that , that freaks me out! LOL

<font color="blue"> B.U.M.P. </font>

Here is some information about EMDR

http://www.theness.com/articles.asp?id=69

http://skepdic.com/emdr.html

I think perhaps for those that are interested in pursing this you should ask yourself what is most appealing to you about this therapy.

In some meditation traditions like yoga, zen and taoism there are techniques that very deliberately try to activate the different parts of the brain during practice.

In yoga we have candle gazing practice known as 'tratak' or 'tradak'

In taoism we have mirror training and distance gazing.

The yoga practice basically consists of staring at a candle while meditating and remaining detached while observing mental content.

The gazing practice of taoist meditation consists of holding your index finger at arms length along the centerline of your body about shoulder height and gazing either at your index finger or past your finger into the near distance while deep breathing and observing mental content.

Mirror training is just exactly what it sounds. You sit in front of a mirror and gaze into your own eyes while sifting through your past or other internal content.

You can practice these exercises by yourself, as little or as long as you want, at your own pace.

If you do not have a lot of experience in meditation you may want to have someone else to watch you if try mirror training, it is very strong stuff.

These techniques have been around for centuries.