EMDR (eye movement) therapy has a very specific objective: to reduce the effect of traumatic experiences, we are certainly faced with a new psychological model that mitigates the impact of negative emotions through bilateral stimulation, that is, through eye movement, certain sounds or kinesthetics. stimuli, like patting.
A treatment based on eye movement? It is possible that some of our readers look at this therapeutic approach with a mixture of curiosity, strangeness and a touch of skepticism, it can be said that it is a relatively new therapy and that, although it did not have the initial impact, more and more therapists were excited about its use.
- The goal of EMDR is to process past experiences and resolve associated emotions.
- Negative thoughts and feelings that are no longer useful will be replaced by positive thoughts and feelings to promote healthier behavior.
It was developed in the 1980s by Francine Shapiro, a neurologist and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist, and the goal of this doctor from the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, was to provide a specific technique for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. In his opinion, there was no concrete strategy that could help patients reduce the impact of trauma or its effect on the brain, behavior or how we interact.
Thus, Shapiro spent time researching the most cutting-edge procedures to shape a clinical strategy as new as it is controversial for many psychiatrists, however, as she says: just one session is enough to evaluate its effect.
The goal of EMDR therapy or desensitization and reprocessing by eye movements is multifactorial, on the one hand it seeks to identify the specific problem that the patient suffers, hence the therapist trained in this series of techniques will help him to treat these traumatic experiences. to alleviate and resolve the emotions associated with these events.
Negative thoughts and feelings will be replaced by more inclusive thoughts. The goal, in essence, is to help each person better cope with their own internal realities to shape healthier behaviors.
However, it can be said that EMDR therapy is not exclusively aimed at dealing with traumatic events (assaults, losses, effects of wars, etc. ), but in recent years has shown remarkable effectiveness in several areas.
The EMDR technique therefore has a very clear objective, to focus on each patient in a particular way to find the healing mechanism inherent in each person through which to arbitrate their recovery, not all cases are the same and not all respond to the same techniques.
Thus, once we have identified the most appropriate strategy for each case, we establish a sensory stimulation system that allows the brain to process these unwanted emotions and thoughts, let’s take a closer look at how this technique is performed.
EMDR therapy can range from three sessions to 12 months of treatment, it all depends on the incidence of trauma, phobia or psychological disorder that the patient suffers, also it is very important the correct training of the therapist in this type of technique Because we are not just talking about a person who moves the fingers so that the patient can follow that movement with the eyes.
EMDR is based on strategies, dynamics that require the skills, intelligence and intuition of a good professional who knows how to guide his patient to a true adaptive resolution, this therapeutic goal can reduce negative symptoms, promote a change of belief and, in turn, allow people to live their daily lives better.
In fact, EMDR lends several models, approaches and techniques to create its treatment, in its psychotherapeutic tissue integrates cognitive psychology, humanist psychology, behavioral and bioinformation, the most characteristic, however, is undoubtedly bilateral stimulation, which focuses on different axes:
In conclusion, these types of therapeutic interventions may continue to attract our attention (and fuel some doubts), some people describe it as pseudoscience, and there are others who need a little more information.
However, if there is one thing we know, it is of great importance in the United States and, according to Dr. Shapiro, has helped more than two million people, EMDR is an alternative with lasting results in many cases. and therefore deserves to be considered. In any case, it is always positive to have more resources to deal with the impact of adverse events on humans.