Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychological treatment method that was developed by a psychologist, Dr Francine Shapiro, in the 1980s. She published the first research data to support the benefits of the therapy in 1989.
Since then a wealth of research has been conducted demonstrating its benefits in treating psychological trauma arising from experiences such as childhood sexual and/or physical abuse or neglect, natural disaster, assault, surgical trauma, road traffic accidents and workplace accidents. Since its original development, EMDR is also increasingly used to help individuals with other issues and performance anxiety. Increasingly in the UK and Australia, psychologists are using EMDR to treat many anxiety based issues.
Download a client handout about EMDR
What can EMDR be used for?
- PTSD
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Depression
- Stress
- Phobias
- Sleep problems
- Complicated grief
- Pain relief and phantom limb pain
- Self-esteem and performance anxiety
- Abuse and neglect issues