EMDR
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitzation Reprocessing. It is a type of therapy that involves bi-lateral stimulation to help process traumatic experiences or limiting self-beliefs. Bi-lateral stimulation usually involves alternate eye movement, tapping, the use of buzzers or sounds.
EMDR is recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and used widely in the NHS to treat trauma, including PTSD and Complex PTSD. It can also help with a range of mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, low self-worth, low mood, phobias and OCD.
EMDR is a much more structured process than psychotherapy or art psychotherapy. It uses 8 phases, starting with building a thorough understanding of the client's history. The process ensures the client has strategies in place to develop a sense of calm, grounding and regulation, before proceeding to the processing stages.
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While EMDR is a more structured approach, it will always be a collaborative process with the client and adapted to the client's needs. EMDR might be practiced as a stand-alone therapy or it might be incorporated in to Psychotherapy and Art Psychotherapy. The approach will depend on the individual needs and wishes of the client.
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EMDR is available for adults and older adolescents. Aspects of the EMDR process can also be used in creative therapy sessions with children.
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