Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy was developed by Dr. Francine Sharpio in 1987. It is a unique type of therapy that helps with the re processing of trauma. The core premise of EMDR therapy is that traumatic experiences can become 'stuck' or 'frozen' in an isolated memory network, which is problematic because, when we are 'triggered', our memory network cannot distinguish between the past experience and the experience happening in the present, it is one and the same. This can show up in the form of flashbacks, anxiety, withdrawal and shutting down responses meaning that our defence mechanisms have taken precedence. With the support of EMDR therapy it can help you to access and re process the traumatic memory, this happens through a mechanism called 'Memory Reconsolidation' whereby the memory network is re visited and re organised which has the effect of reducing its emotional intensity.
During an EMDR therapy session you will be asked to recall the traumatic memory through a series of guided questions. You will then re -experience the memory while using Bi Lateral Stimulation. Bi lateral Stimulation can vary from moving your eyes, tapping, or auditory pulsing from left to right. This Bi Lateral Stimulation seems to effectively stimulate the Frozen memory so that the brain can begin to process it like a typical memory therefore reducing its emotional intensity.