Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment modality that alleviates distress associated with traumatic memories. When disturbing events occur, the memory seems to get locked in the nervous system with the original picture, sounds, thoughts, and feelings. EMDR seems to unlock the nervous system and allows the brain to process the experience to a more adaptive resolution. After successful treatment with EMDR, affective distress is relieved, negative beliefs are changed to more positive ones and physiological arousal is reduced.