Dr. Elizabeth Vance, PsyD, LCSW
🛡️ Verified ClinicianLicensed Clinical Psychologist & Psychotherapist
Dr. Vance is a licensed clinical psychologist and somatic therapy pioneer with over 14 years of clinical outpatient experience. She specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), somatic down-regulation techniques, and values-based emotional regulation frameworks.
What is definition of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) in Therapeutic Approaches?
EMDR, also known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a therapeutic approach that was originally developed to help individuals who have experienced traumatic events. It involves a combination of eye movements, bilateral stimulation, and cognitive processing to help a person process distressing memories and related emotions.
During an EMDR session, the individual is guided by a trained therapist to focus on a specific traumatic memory or distressing event while engaging in bilateral stimulation. This can be done through eye movements, auditory tones, or tactile sensations. The purpose of the bilateral stimulation is to activate both sides of the brain, facilitating the processing and integration of traumatic memories.
Through EMDR, the goal is to help the person reprocess the traumatic memory, reduce distressing symptoms, and ultimately, develop more adaptive coping mechanisms. This therapeutic approach is often used to treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, phobias, and other trauma-related disorders.
It is important to note that EMDR should be conducted by a trained and certified therapist, as the process can be intense and may bring up strong emotions.
