This is the type of story I love — offering a simple, natural, noninvasive treatment for a serious health problem that might otherwise land a patient in a hospital or on dangerous medication. In this case, a form of psychotherapy that uses a patient’s eye movements — or, alternatively, simple tones or taps — is being used routinely for military combat veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and it has many applications for nonmilitary folks as well — maybe even for you.
Called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), this therapy is an innovative blend of traditional psychotherapeutic approaches and… well, those not-so-usual methods that I mentioned above. It was developed in the 1980s, but, because it’s somewhat unconventional, it met some resistance. Now a significant body of research supports its value.
The theory is that repetitively stimulating the senses activates parts of the brain that help people who have had disturbing experiences get rid of the anguish associated with (or, in EMDR parlance, “process”) traumatic experiences so they can function better in everyday life. I interviewed Francine Shapiro, PhD, the pioneering psychologist who developed and introduced EMDR in the late 1980s.
Dr. Shapiro told me that EMDR can be used in many ways, including…
First let’s spend a minute discussing this idea of processing memories and experiences as being fundamental to emotional health. If you’ve experienced disruptive events that remain “unprocessed,” they can become destructive, blocking your ability to function normally — in fact, the theory is that this is what often underlies emotional and behavioral problems. Dr. Shapiro explained that the goal is to help people filter what’s useful from their life experiences, and let go of the rest so they can function without the damaging impact of emotional reactions.
The “bilateral stimulation” or “dual stimulation” (the stimuli plus the memories) at the core of EMDR helps the neurophysiological system (the mind/body connection) free itself of blockages — the goal is to disconnect the memory from the negative emotions and thoughts. According to Dr. Shapiro, some researchers believe that the bilateral stimulation links into the same processes that occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. “We dream during REM sleep, and that is the time that the brain processes disturbing information,” she said.
Dr. Shapiro offered this example. A woman who was raped many years ago now has a loving and supportive partner. But intimacy is difficult because the woman re-experiences the same terrifying emotions, troubling images and physical sensations that occurred during the assault. These unprocessed memories make it impossible for her to function well in her relationship. EMDR enables victims, such as this woman, to take in what is useful (their strength as survivors) and discard what’s useless (the feelings of fear, shame or guilt). Then they can go on to enjoy healthy intimate relationships with people they love.
Therefore, Dr. Shapiro explained, an EMDR treatment will address…
EMDR can work quickly and does not involve the use of hypnosis or drugs. Treatment sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes. Good results may be achieved in as few as three reprocessing sessions, but more typically require five to 15 weekly sessions. The amount of time needed depends on the complexity of the case.
The first meeting: You’ll discuss your history so the clinician can design a treatment plan to meet your needs. This involves identifying memories that need to be reprocessed, which may be one particular event (say, an earthquake or a terrible accident) or perhaps choosing one to represent many (such as for a person who spent years in an abusive relationship). Dr. Shapiro noted that some people need to filter through several or many disturbing experiences to identify the root of their distress. Also at this first session, the clinician will discuss what to do so that you will be comfortable during and between treatments.
During EMDR reprocessing sessions: The therapist will ask you to bring a chosen memory to mind in a certain way… then will move his/her fingers rapidly back and forth about 18 inches in front of your eyes (or use another repetitive stimulus, such as tapping or lights)… and ask you to follow the movements with your eyes. Different sets of eye movements target the memory in order to reassociate it with more positive thoughts, such as “I am strong” and “It wasn’t my fault.”
Dr. Shapiro told me that nearly two dozen studies now affirm EMDR’s value, and health organizations are recognizing this. For example…
This therapy may provide gratifying results for people who are suffering greatly from terrifying events in their lives. You can learn more about EMDR at www.emdr.com (and you can find a trained and qualified clinician for EMDR at www.emdr.com/clinic.htm). Many health insurance plans cover EMDR, but always check with your insurer first to make sure.
