EMDR therapy is an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma. EMDR is a set of standardized protocols that incorporates elements from different treatment approaches.

EMDR uses a technique called bilateral stimulation to repeatedly activate opposite sides of the brain. Eye movements are used to facilitate the bilateral stimulation. These eye movements mimic the period of sleep referred to as rapid eye movement or REM sleep, and this portion of sleep is frequently considered to be the time when the mind processes the recent events in the person’s life.

EMDR seems to help the brain reprocess the trapped memories in such a way that normal information processing is resumed. EMDR is used to help clients uncover and process beliefs that developed as the result of relational traumas or childhood abuse and/or neglect.