Integrating EMDR in Psychotherapy

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) has significantly contributed to psychotherapy in the last 30 years. Studies support EMDR as effective for posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. It was also applied to other disorders because it can help resolve and reprocess memories of traumatic experiences that can contribute, as risk, precipitating and predisposing factors to the development of mental disorders. What these disorders have in common is the maladaptive processing of information associated with stressful and pathogenic events. EMDR therapy has given a contribution to psychotherapy as an effective method that can help the innate processing system process all aspects of a traumatic experience. After working with traumatic memories that may be part of the patient's life story, EMDR therapy focuses on current triggers and symptoms and then provides the patient with instruments to deal with future situations that may cause anxiety. While working with this method, it is possible to enhance metacognitive skills and promote a change in dysfunctional emotions, beliefs, and behaviors. These are some common objectives that EMDR therapy shares with most psychotherapy approaches.