3. What is it ?
EMDR is a form of psychotherapy that was developed
to resolve symptoms resulting from disturbed and
unresolved life events or experience
It uses a structured approach to address Past, present
and future aspects of disturbed memories.
As well as its primary use for trauma and PTSD it is
also used for chronic pain, performance enhancement,
smoking cessation , depression, addictions and grief.
EMDR is simply a form or desensitization
4. How did it start
Invented in the 80’s by Dr Francise Shapiro
Noted that disturbed thoughts disappear after
engaging in a particular eye movement actually no
longer upset her.
Began to study and note the effects on others. Thus
developing and fine tuning EMDR.
5. How does it work
The Theory suggests it helps the sufferer process
distressing memories more fully
Thus reducing the distress
Its unique aspect it the bilateral eye movement
Also bilateral sound, tactile stimulation
Utilises bodies sensations and visualised images
6. When the individual is traumatised they experience such
strong emotions that it is thought to over whelm the brain.
Consequently the brain is unable to cope with it, or to
process the information as it would do ordinarily.
Distressed experiences become “frozen in time “
Become intrusive memories or action replays.
Reliving the event remembering the sights sounds smells
Have a long lasting effect on how the person sees
themselves, people around them and the world.
Can really effect every part of the persons life
7. Directly influences the way the brain functions .
Helps restore normal ways of dealing with problems
Following successful treatment memories of the event
are far less painful when bought to mind.
What has happened can still be recalled
But is less upsetting
EMDR appears to mimic what the brain does naturally
on a daily basis during dreaming or REM sleep
8. How effective is it
It has been demonstrated to have significant advantages
over usual treatment for PTSD
More studies on the use of EMDR and PTSD than any other
psychological treatment.
Shown to be an effective on measures of trauma,
depression and anxiety in people who have been abused as
children.
However it has been studied to be on a par with CBT, a lot
of studies have indicated that there are few sessions needed
with EMDR.
EMDR is highly effective.
9. NICE Guidelines for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Psychological interventions
1.9.2.1 All PTSD sufferers should be offered a course of trauma-focused
psychological treatment (trauma-focused cognitive behavioural
therapy or eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing). These
treatments should normally be provided on an individual outpatient
basis. A
1.9.2.2 Trauma-focused psychological treatment should be offered to PTSD
sufferers regardless of the time that has elapsed since the
trauma. B
NICE Guidelines 30/3/10
Updated/30/3/10 http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG26/NICEGuidance/pdf/English
10. The Treatment
Eight Phases
1) History Taking
2) Preparation
3) Assessment
4) Desensitisation
5) Installation
6) Body scan
7) Closure
8) Re –evaluation.
11. First Phase
History taking
Treatment plan
Identify and clarify potential targets and goals for
EMDR
Targets refer to a disturbed issue , event or memory for
use as an initial focus.
12. Second Phase.
Safe place to be identified such as images memory or
some thing that elicits a comfortable safe feeling.
Can be used for later to bring closure to an
uncompleted
Help the client to tolerate a upsetting session.
13. Third Phase.
Snap shot image is identified that represents the target
and the disturbance that is associated with it.
We use that image to help the client focus on the
target and a negative cognition is identified. (a
negative statement about the self that feels true when
the client focuses on the image.
A positive cognition is also identified (positive
statement )
14. Fourth Stage.
Client to focus on the image, the NC and the disturbed
emotion or body sensation.
Follow fingers
Client asked to report on what thought feeling physical
sensations images memories or changes that have
come up.
To go with this thought
The desensitization phase ends with checking the
subjective unit of distress hopefully reaching 0 or 1
15. Phase five
This is the instillation stage
Ask about positive cognition
The view of the client at the original snap shot
Maybe a stronger positive cognition is needed
Client is asked to pull together the snap shot and the
new PC
Asked how the PC feels on scale of 1-7
16. Phase six
body scan – ask if there are pains any were in the
clients body any stresses or discomfort.
If there are the client is asked to focus on this and a
new set of movements are issued
Phase seven
Debrief the therapist gives the client appropriate
information and support needed.
17. Phase eight
Re evaluate
Review the week with the client
Discuss new sensations and experiences
The level of disturbance arising from the experience
Ensure of the correct processing of the relevant
historical events