Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, known as EMDR therapy is an interactive psychotherapy technique used to relieve psychological stress. It is an effective treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD.
Unfortunately, people who live a trauma-filled life often wait until they’re one spark away from disaster before getting help. Fortunately, EMDR works to help bring emotional peace to people who suffer from PTSD.
My initial EMDR training was with Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., who was the originator and developer of EMDR. Dr. Shapiro held the position as a Senior Research Fellow Emeritus at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, Executive Director of the EMDR Institute in Watsonville, CA, and founder and President Emeritus of the Trauma Recovery EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program, a non-profit organization that coordinates disaster response and training worldwide.
The Practice Guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association and the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs recommends EMDR as an effective treatment for trauma.