As another integrative approach to psychotherapy involving cognitive-behavioral and experiential methods, EMDR is based on the theory that much emotional disturbance is due to traumatic experience or disturbing life events. These memories can limit an individual’s innate ability to emotionally process and integrate new experiences, to behave or respond adaptively, and to diminished self-perception. Fundamentally, EMDR treatment involves activating components of the traumatic memory or disturbing life event and pairing those components with alternating bilateral or dual attention stimulation.
As the individual’s past disturbing experiences are re-processed, obstructions to adaptive processing are removed and resolution of past emotional injuries can take place.
This treatment approach can result in the alleviation of mood disturbances, diminution of distress from the memory, an improved self-image and self-esteem, relief from bodily disturbance, and increase an individual’s sense of autonomy and freedom.