EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing

A highly effective technique for overcoming traumas (PTSD) and phobias. It can also be used to great benefit when treating anything that requires the subconscious to help support a change, such as emotional concerns, weight control and smoking.

The protocol behind EMDR is to generate the same functioning of the neural pathways that occur while dreaming in the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep state. During REM sleep more brain connections are made and part of the purpose of dreaming is to discharge any heightened distressing issues prevalent in a person’s life, thus leaving them more emotionally balanced.

EMDR is conducted while a person is fully awake in the conscious state. They are asked to follow a series of eye movement exercises, which makes the brain respond in the same way as when dreaming. In other words, during this therapy there are many more neural links and the brain is more open to new outlooks and possibilities.

During the eye movement exercises, the client is asked to access details of their concern and then reflect on it for a short while. At the end of this period a gauge is made on their thoughts, images or feelings. This then becomes the new focus and is used as a starting point for another set of eye movement exercises, after which they once again report on their translation of the issue in question.

The therapy continues along the same lines throughout the session allowing negative emotions, viewpoints and attachments to be released. In other words the eye movements lead to desensitisation of the concern and the brain reproccesses a new and more effective perspective.

Sometimes considerable gains can be made in one session, however if a problem is deep routed it may take a few visits to obtain a lasting resolution.

For further details of EMDR please ask fro Robert Russell at The Hale Clinic