Traumatic experiences may overwhelm the processing ability of our brains, and small pieces of the trauma remain stuck, frozen in time. Eye movements allow the brain to reprocess and desensitize these “frozen” experiences, helping adaptive information processing to resume. Research shows that eye movements reduce the intensity of disturbing past events. Memories remain intact, while negative and highly-charged emotional response experiences lose their charge. Clients process in a way that leads to peaceful resolution and increased insight into past events and negative belief patterns. 

EMDR uses a set of standardized protocols and integrates a variety of therapeutic modalities. 

Developed in 1987 by Dr. Francine Shapiro, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing – often simply known as EMDR – is a powerful form of psychotherapy that assists with left brain-right brain integration of past negative experiences. EMDR, an evidenced-based therapy, has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma. Further lending credibility to this form of therapy, it has helped millions of individuals to reduce experiences related to anxiety, performance anxiety, fear, stress, adjustment difficulties, eating disorders, body image disorders, grief, dissociation, and recurring memories.