Why choose EMDR therapy?  Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is one of the most significant, exciting and innovative developments for decades in the treatment of psychological trauma related conditions.  It is supported by extensive research and recommended for the treatment of PTSD in national and international guidelines including the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

 

EMDR is a powerful psychological treatment method developed by clinical psychologist, Dr Francine Shapiro.  EMDR can treat psychological trauma arising from experiences as diverse as war and conflict, childhood abuse and / or neglect, natural disaster, assault, road traffic accidents and workplace accidents.

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Recent research also suggests EMDR is effective in treating a number of other conditions including anxiety disorders, depression and chronic pain.  EMDR has also been found to be of benefit to children as well as adults.

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What is EMDR?

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EMDR seems to directly influence the way that the brain functions.  It helps to restore normal ways of dealing with problems (i.e. information processing).  Following successful EMDR treatment, memories of such events are no longer painful when brought to mind.  What happened can still be recalled, but it is no longer upsetting.  EMDR appears to mimic what the brain does naturally during dreaming or REM (Rapid Eye Movements) sleep.  EMDR can be thought of as an inherently natural therapy which assists the brain in working through distressing material utilising a natural process.  This is called Adaptive Information Processing.  EMDR therapists help clients reprocess their traumatic memories by using a method that involves repeated left-right (bilateral) stimulation of the brain while noticing different aspects of the traumatic memory.  It is believed that the bilateral stimulation of EMDR creates biochemical changes in the brain that aid processing of information.  Neuroscience suggest that this occurs in the Limbic system, where the Amygdala and Hippocampus are located.

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EMDR therapy normally takes place in 90 minute sessions in order to allow plenty of time to process a memory.