Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
What is EMDR?
EMDR, short for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, is a therapy for the lasting effects of traumatic experiences. It was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and is now one of the most studied trauma treatments available.
It's used most often for post-traumatic stress disorder and complex trauma. Clinicians also use it for anxiety, phobias, and distressing memories tied to depression.
How it works
In EMDR, the client briefly holds a difficult memory in mind while following a back-and-forth stimulus, usually the therapist's hand moving side to side, alternating taps, or tones in each ear. Sets are short, with check-ins between them.
Over sessions, the memory tends to lose its charge. People still remember what happened, but it stops feeling like it's happening now. Beliefs tied to the memory, such as "I'm not safe" or "it was my fault," often shift as well.
EMDR follows eight phases, starting with history and preparation. A good clinician will not jump into trauma memories until the client has ways to calm down and feel steady.
The evidence
The World Health Organization recommends EMDR for PTSD in adults, and it appears in clinical guidelines from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Psychological Association. The EMDR International Association maintains standards for training and certification.
EMDR at Sanare
We use EMDR as one part of a larger plan, when it makes sense for the client. That's a meaningful difference from EMDR on its own. Processing a trauma memory can stir things up for a few days, and Sanare clinicians are already working with the client at home and in the community during that time, helping them stay steady and use what they're learning.
Our co-founder, Ali Pierucci, LCSW, is certified in EMDR and is working toward becoming an EMDR consultant and trainer.
EMDR therapy in Denver
Sanare works with adults 18 and older in Denver, Boulder and the surrounding metro. Contact us or call 303.476.1974 to ask whether EMDR fits your situation.