An Introduction to Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a psychotherapy that can assist people to heal from psychological symptoms and emotional distress. EMDR therapy is underpinned by Francine Shapiro’s (2001, 2018) Adaptive Information Processing model, which posits that psychological symptoms are a result of past traumatic or distressing experiences that continue to cause distress because the memory has not been adequately processed. These unprocessed memories contain the emotions, cognitions, beliefs, and physiological sensations that occurred at the time of the distressing event. When the memories are triggered in the present, these stored elements are experienced.

How Does EMDR Therapy Work?

EMDR therapy accesses and processes traumatic or disturbing memories to reach an adaptive resolution. It uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones) while clients briefly focus on the distressing memory. EMDR therapy assists to access the traumatic memory network to enhance information processing, with new associations made between the distressing memory and more adaptive memories or information. These new associations are thought to result in new learning and the reformulation of negative beliefs (i.e., shifts negative beliefs to more adaptive beliefs), and the elimination of emotional distress. For example, a motor vehicle accident victim may shift from feeing fear to holding the belief “I survived, and I am safe now”, and be able to think about the experience without emotional or physiological disturbance. 

Is EMDR Therapy Effective?

EMDR therapy has been extensively researched. Over 30 published randomised controlled trials demonstrate that EMDR therapy is an effective treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). EMDR therapy is recognised as a first-line treatment for PTSD in most international clinic practice guidelines. Research also indicates that EMDR therapy is a helpful intervention for other mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, chronic pain, and addictions (EMDR International Association, 2024; Maxfield, 2019). 

Resources can be found on the EMDR Association of Australia website: emdraa.org/emdr-resources/

Written by Georgia Grattan. Click here to see Georgia's profile and to book an appointment.