What is EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychological therapy. It helps people who have traumatic memories that affect them.
Trauma is defined as something distressing that happened in the past that still affects you today.
EMDR is recommended by NICE as a successful treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It can also be used with other talking therapies.
It has been found to have positive results for people who have:
- A history of childhood or adult trauma
- Medical trauma
- Complex and single event trauma
Why has EMDR been suggested?
Sometimes difficult things that happen are so big and overwhelming that our brains do not store the memories the right way. This means our brains can pull them up quickly and when we do not expect them. This can happen when something triggers the memory and makes it replay in your mind. When this happens, you might feel like you are in that difficult time again in your mind or in your body.
Sometimes a brain can process these difficult memories by itself during sleep. This happens when your brain goes into Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. If this does not happen on its own, EMDR can help your brain process these difficult memories.
After EMDR people say that the memory is still there but it is less difficult/painful.
What happens in EMDR?
EMDR uses one of two ways to process the memory:
- Moving your eyes from side to side
- Tapping from side to side
Other equipment may be used, and this will be explained to you by therapist.
EMDR is not hypnosis you can stop at any time. During EMDR you will ‘process’ the memory. Processing happens on its own.
Before you start processing the memory the therapist will work with you and will plan how to support you through the difficult parts of remembering.
Further Information
If you would like any further information or have any concerns about this therapy, please look at the EMDR Association UK website. Alternatively, please speak your named clinician or care team.
L1205, V1, 09/07/2024 (archive 09/07/2027)
