EMDR

Professional Psychotherapy &

Assessment Services

Sven Schild, PhD, TCC

EMDR

What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma and other psychological problems. Compared to other therapies, however, EMDR is not a traditional talk therapy. Instead, EMDR is a set of standardized protocols that incorporates elements from many different treatment approaches, which help to reprocess material that was "unresolved and locked" in the brain. No one completely knows how EMDR works, but research studies show in fact that it does work.

It is known that we have verbal and nonverbal memories, and it is believed that in trauma, the nonverbal memories (e.g., emotional, sensory) become frozen in time and are fragmented memories that are not integrated and processed. With the use of EMDR it is believed that somehow the right and left brain are now able to communicate with one another and old distressful material can be processed. Essentially, the negative, strong emotion linked to the memory dissipates and the person can move on, so to speak. The memory may still be there, but without the incapacitating intense emotions.

Scientific research has established EMDR as effective for post traumatic stress. However, clinicians also have reported success using EMDR in treatment of the following conditions:

Addictions
Sexual and/or Physical abuse
Panic attacks
Complicated grief
Dissociative disorders
Disturbing memories
Phobias
Pain disorders
Performance anxiety
Stress reduction

To learn more about EMDR, please the EMDR Institute, EMDR International Association (EMDRIA), or the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program ( EMDR HAP) website.

Dr. Schild is an EMDRIA certified EMDR clinician. The EMDRIA certification program ensures that a clinician has received thorough, high-quality training in EMDR and possess the skills and knowledge necessary to be a successful and effective EMDR practitioner. In order to maintain one's EMDRIA certification status, a clinician is also required to remain up-to-date with EMDR applications and best practices in the field of EMDR.

​