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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing(EMDR) therapy is a time-efficient, comprehensive clinical treatment for the disturbing experiences that underlie many pathologies. EMDR provides profound and stable treatment effects in a short period of time. It involves behavioral, cognitive, psychodynamic, body-based and system therapies. EMDR involves an eight-phase treatment that includes the use of eye movements or other left-right stimulation.

EMDR helps victims of trauma reprocess disturbing thoughts and memories. EMDR can help victims of sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse, victims of crime, combat, phobias and many other traumatic events. The goal of EMDR treatment is to rapidly metabolize the dysfunctional residue from the past and transform it into something useful. The dysfunctional information undergoes a spontaneous change in shape and meaning—incorporating insights and affect that are enhancing to the client.

Although EMDR is best known and named for its eye movements, it is vital that clinicians approach it as a whole system. The eye movements are only one component of the method. Before attempting EMDR therapy with a client, clinicians must take a full history and establish the appropriate therapeutic relationship. They must use different protocols and follow different therapeutic procedures depending on the type and number of traumas the client has experienced.

An EMDR therapist helps trauma victims by having them learn to link the memory of the trauma with information rooted in the present reality, rather than the past. Though the exact mechanism is unknown, it appears that using rapid eye movements relieves the anxiety associated with the trauma so that the original event can be examined from a more detached perspective. Some experts have even suggested that the eye movements involved in EMDR therapy might reactivate parts of the brain that were “shut down” as a coping mechanism. In this way cognitive reorganizing takes place, allowing the negative, painful emotions to give way to more resolved and empowered feelings.

Some of the potential benefits of EMDR Therapy:

* EMDR does not require the client to go into detail about the traumatic events of the past. EMDR is a multi-faceted approach. The fact that it simultaneously works on mind, body, and emotions may account for it success.

* The trauma that must be re-experienced during EMDR treatment is relatively short-lived. Cognitive reprocessing occurs simultaneously with memory recall.

In summary, the extensive and detailed exposition of each phase of treatment and myriad applications make it an invaluable treatment for trauma victims.

For additional resources, you can get some excellent books on
EMDR Therapy at: EMDR Therapy

Scott Barker- EzineArticles- Expert Author

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