EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a method of trauma therapy developed in California between 1987 and 1991 by the clinical psychologist Dr Francine Shapiro, and has been in successful clinical use since the mid-1990s.
How the method works
EMDR works with bilateral stimulation – engaging both brain hemispheres, primarily through guided eye movements and increasingly through other forms of sensory stimulation. A fuller explanation of the mechanism is set out under how does EMDR work.
Where EMDR is used
The method combines well with established therapeutic models – talk therapy, behavioural therapy, NLP and in-depth psychotherapy among them. It is also increasingly used in training, counselling and coaching contexts rather than clinical ones alone.
How effective is it?
After only a few sessions, EMDR produces noticeable changes in cognition, emotions and bodily experience. Numerous studies and first-hand accounts document its positive effects on the processing of stress-related individual experiences. Processing complex or multiple traumas naturally takes longer – but with EMDR that processing time is considerably shorter than with other established methods of psychotherapy.
Scientific studies have repeatedly confirmed the efficacy and lasting results of the method. Since 2006, the effectiveness of EMDR in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been recognised worldwide. Originally developed and tested for processing traumatic experiences in war veterans, its applications have since become far more diverse.
Learn more
Read about how Francine Shapiro discovered the method, browse our recommended reading, or find out about training in EMDR if you would like to use it in your own practice.
