Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of therapy that targets the unprocessed memories that contain negative emotions, perceptions, sensations, and beliefs related to traumatic events or other adverse life experiences. By activating the brain’s information processing system through EMDR, the old memories can be broken down and reprocessed by which the emotional distress is relieved, negative beliefs are reformulated, and physiological arousal is reduced.

EMDR is an effective therapeutic treatment that relieves emotional and psychological distress and facilitates the resolution of trauma. It uses a structured protocol to work with symptoms of trauma and overwhelming past experiences that trigger emotional, physiological, and cognitive responses that are no longer helpful or adaptive. EMDR enables access to the traumatic memory so that processing is enhanced with new associations forged between the traumatic memory and more adaptive memories or information. These new associations result in complete information processing, new learning, elimination of emotional distress, and the development of cognitive insights. What makes EMDR such a desirable treatment modality is that it can be integrated with other therapeutic methods, such as traditional talk therapy and body-based treatment techniques (i.e. Somatic Experiencing) to deepen the work for a more comprehensive resolution of trauma.