EMDR Case Study

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Eye movement desensitization reprocessing This form of therapy enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress from the trauma. EDMR is a quick and efficient way of healing, it facilitates the accessing of traumatic memories to bring adaptive resolutions (Fuller, 2013). Francine Shapiro developed EMDR in 1989. EMDR is when clients recall a disturbing event for half a minute while simultaneously undergo bilateral simulation and recall a disturbing event (Fuller, 2013). This bilateral stimulation created by eye movements activates opposite sides of the brain’s two hemispheres to reprocess emotional experiences in the brain. Therapist directed lateral eye movement as a common form of external stimulus but Shapiro also uses other…show more content…
She uses this model to describe and predict the effect of EMDR. Her understanding of memory is that it is stored in linked networks that are organized around the earliest related events and its associated events; the memory networks contain all the emotions, thoughts, images and sensory information (Fuller, 2013). The AIP model hypothesizes that information regarding a distressing or traumatic experience has to be fully processed in order for the initial perceptions to be stored as if it was from the past. If the patient doesn’t process the traumatic experience, the past will continue to become the basis of their current dysfunctional reactions, and these reactions lead to mental disorder. The clients have to learn to confront the memories with a positive attitude and the whole processing experience is stored with appropriate emotions that can guide people in their present…show more content…
The review suggested that exposure-based interventions for veterans were more effective than EMDR. EMDR treatment method is more effective for sexual assault victims than veterans. The study done by Ironson et al (2002) had the aim of comparing the effective of EMDR and prolonged exposure (PE) on 22 sexual assault victims. To standardize the process, all participants attended the three preparatory sessions. The results were promising because both approaches showed a reduction in PTSD and it’s symptoms. There were 10 participants in the EMDR group and 12 in the PE group. Treatment was faster for EMDR clients, they had 70% reduction in PTSD
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