“The aim of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing treatment is to achieve the most profound and comprehensive treatment effects in the shortest period of time” (from the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association’s Definition of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing has been shown to be helpful in resolving many kinds of trauma and anxiety based symptoms including intrusive thoughts, panic, phobias, painful sensations, and emotional distress. Many adult, adolescent, and child survivors of single incident traumas, multiple traumas, and of childhood abuse have responded positively to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing treatment.
Compared to traditional forms of “Cognitive-Behavioral” therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing has proven to be extremely effective in treating even the most difficult issues in an extraordinarily short amount of time – translating into reduced costs for the client. Many clients also find Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing easier to benefit from, in that it does not require the disciplined mental “work” of most conventional approaches to counseling.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing treatment uses bilateral stimulation (stimulate both sides of the brain) in the form of back and forth eye movements, alternating sound, or vibrations. These appear to stimulate an intrinsic capacity of the human brain to resolve emotional disturbance and gain adaptive insights which often occurs spontaneously during dreaming (rapid eye movement) sleep. The Adaptive Information Processing model developed by Dr. Shapiro proposes that Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing stimulates an intrinsic human capacity for adapting to and learning from new and stressful life experiences which normally operates during the rapid eye movement (dreaming) phase of sleep.Creating a rhythmic, back and forth stimulation of each hemisphere of the brain seems to stimulate a highly accelerated mode of functioning. There are different methods that have been developed for creating the “bilateral stimulation” effect, I usually use visual (eye movements) or a tactile method (tapping).
Studies show that PTSD related symptoms from a single traumatic incident can often be resolved in a total of three to six sessions. This includes sessions for history taking, treatment planning, preparation, and reevaluation. Treatment for survivors of multiple traumas will take longer. Survivors of prolonged trauma such as combat trauma and persistent childhood neglect and abuse have also been shown to benefit from psychotherapy with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, but to achieve comprehensive improvements, more lengthy treatment will be needed. Your Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing psychotherapist can often give you an estimate of the anticipated length of treatment after the first two or three visits. Published reports indicate when longer treatment is needed, use of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing may significantly shorten the total number of sessions needed.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing has been the subject of more controlled research than all other treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) combined. A total of 15 controlled studies have been completed in University, Veterans Administration, HMO and other settings.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing has been found to be more rapid, efficient or comprehensive in treating trauma based symptoms than behavioral therapy, biofeedback, active listening or standard cognitive and analytic treatments. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is recognized as an empirically validated method by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is endorsed by the American Red Cross, the FBI, the International Critical Incident Stress Management Foundation, and major HMO’s such as Kaiser and Value Options.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing was used extensively to treat survivors in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing, and in New York after 9-11.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is the most researched psychotherapy method for PTSD and there are more controlled studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in the treatment of PTSD than any other method.
- As of 2002, more than 20 controlled outcome studies of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing have already been published and/or presented. These studies all found Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing superior to the control condition on measures of PTSD, with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing using fewer treatment sessions to achieve effects. Follow up studies at intervals up to 5 years after treatment have indicated a high level of maintenance of treatment effects.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is on the American Psychological Association Division of Clinical Psychology’s list of empirically validated methods. Only two other methods are even on this list for the treatment of PTSD.
You can also learn more by visiting the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing website.
