EMDR

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a psychotherapy developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s to help people reduce distress associated with traumatic memories. It uses bilateral stimulation, often via guided eye movements, during recall of traumatic experiences, within a structured eight-phase protocol that includes history taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation of positive beliefs, body scan, closure, and reevaluation.

During desensitization, the client focuses on a traumatic image while the therapist guides lateral eye movements or other bilateral stimulation; this is followed by cognitive processing to replace negative beliefs with more adaptive ones. The mechanism is debated; the Adaptive Information Processing model posits that distressing memories become poorly integrated, and bilateral stimulation helps reprocess them into adaptive networks; alternative explanations emphasize working memory taxation or extinction-like processes.

EMDR is most studied for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Systematic reviews find EMDR to be effective for reducing PTSD symptoms, with effects similar to trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Several professional guidelines endorse EMDR as an evidence-based treatment for PTSD and consider it a recommended option, though the degree of endorsement varies between guidelines. EMDR has been explored for other conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, and complex trauma, with mixed evidence.

Safety and considerations: EMDR is generally well tolerated but can provoke temporary distress, vivid imagery, or dissociation during sessions. It should be delivered by trained clinicians, with appropriate screening and crisis plans; it is not recommended for individuals with untreated psychosis or certain severe mental health conditions without specialist supervision. It is not typically a do-it-yourself therapy.