(EMDR) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing is a new psychotherapy technique that is extremely effective in the treatment of emotional trauma. Psychotherapists all over the world use this method as a complement to classical psychotherapy methods, as EMDR can help to resolve psychological problems much more quickly (compared to traditional forms of psychotherapy).

EMDR is an accelerated method of processing information. The method is based on a natural eye movement process that activates an internal mechanism of traumatic memory transplantation in the nervous system. Certain types of eye movements allow access to the innate physiological mechanism of processing traumatic information, which produces a psychotherapeutic effect. The process of transformation of traumatic information leads to changes in thinking, behaviour, emotions, feelings and visual images. Metaphorically speaking, we can think of the processing mechanism as a kind of "digestion" or "metabolism" of information so that it can be used to heal and improve a person's quality of life.

Through EMDR, traumatic information becomes accessible, processed and integrated in an adaptive way. Our negative emotions are also processed.

The processing process can take place not only through certain types of eye movement, but also through other external stimuli, such as light taps on the client's palm, light or auditory stimuli.

Very often, after just one EMDR session, people remember the traumatic event in a more neutral way, without intense emotions. People start to have a more realistic and constructive view of what happened and a more positive attitude towards themselves: "I did my best", "What happened is already in the past. Now I am safe", "I stayed alive and that is the most important thing", "Everything is fine with me", "I am worthy of a good attitude", "I can cope with my life", etc. In addition to these positive changes in thinking, the so-called flash-backs (intrusive images of the traumatic event) usually disappear.

How does EMDR work?

Each of us has an innate physiological mechanism for processing information that keeps our mental health at an optimal level. Our natural internal information processing system restores our mental health in the same way that the body naturally recovers from trauma. For example, if we cut our hand, all the body's forces are channeled into healing the wound. If something interferes with this process, the scar becomes festering and painful. If the obstruction is removed, the healing process is complete.

The balance of the natural information-processing system can be upset at the neurophysiological level as a result of trauma or everyday stress. This blocks the ability of the brain's natural information processing system to maintain our mental health at an optimal level. This results in various psychological problems, as psychological problems are the result of negative traumatic information accumulated in the nervous system. Changes at the psychological level occur when the ability to process information is restored.

The use of EMDR

EMDR successfully helps to cope with self-confidence, anxiety, depression, phobias, panic attacks, sexual problems, addictions, eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating).

EMDR helps to normalise the emotional and psychological state of victims of attacks, disasters and fires. It reduces the intensity of excessive mourning associated with the loss of a loved one or others.

The EMDR method can be used to process negative and emotionally traumatic situations from early childhood, later life or the present.

EMDR promotes emotional balance, adequate self-esteem, self-worth and self-confidence.