EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) developed in 1987 by Dr. Francine Shapiro is a holistic psychotherapy approach. When it was accidentally discovered that the eye movements reduced the disturbing affects of strong uncomfortable thoughts; the effects of this method was scientifically studied on people subjected to traumatic experience. EMDR, which aims to desensitize negative emotions, beliefs and body sensations caused by different stressful and difficult life events such as war stress, natural disasters, sexual abuse, phobia, depression, anxiety, performance anxiety, body image disorder, grief, aims to reprocess these experiences in a positive way. EMDR therapy consists of 8 step protocols including examination of the memories and goals that are the source of the problems, preparation, evaluation, desensitization, placement, body scanning, closure and reassessment.
EMDR International Association: www.emdria.org
Shapiro, F. (2001). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols and Procedures, 2nd Edition, Guilford Press, New York.