I have had exciting results with this therapy technique. Children work extremely well and fast
when doing this process. They are relieved of fears, nightmares, phobias, disturbing
behaviors, and distracting thoughts in a very brief time period. There is hope for situations
and distress that hasn't been available without extended therapy.

I am not surprised when adults report their great progress within just a few visits. Some of
the victories involve things such as the following:

    a.    Major depresson as a result of severe physical or sexual abuse being lifted. The
interpretation of the world changes with EMDR. Lies that we began to believe as children
when bad things happened, are converted into the truth about who we really are. This brings
great relief, hope, worth, and peace.
    b.    Social phobia that kept people trapped at home is relieved allowing some to work for
the first time--in sales! Those who have panic and anxiety on entering large department
stores or restaurants can now enter, enjoy shopping, and look forward to future visits.
    c.    Extreme phobic fears of planes, elevators, snakes, heights, etc. have been dissolved
within one to two visits enabling flights without medications, elevators without breaking out in
a sweat, looking at snakes on TV without freaking out, etc.
    d.    Barriers to intimacy or sexual performance have been lifted allowing a fuller more
satisfying experience within the marital relationship.
    e.    High levels of stress and anxiety that interfere with relationships and work performance
have been reduced such that sleep is restored, performance is enhanced, anger reduced, and
the physical  signs of stress diminish or disappear (e.g. stomach pains, nausea, diarrhea, chest pains, sweating, hair falling out, headaches, etc.
    f.     Bulimia and Anorexia disappear when the core issues are addressed and dissolved.
    g.    Panic attacks diminish in frequency and intensity or more likely completely disappear
after only one to three treatments with EMDR.
    h.    Chronic physical pain can be controlled allowing a great reduction in the medications
being taken. Life becomes much more rewarding and satisfying when those with long-term
pain can begin to take control of the physical pain in their life.
    i.    Emotional pain that has weighed a person down out of guilt, shame, or rejection is
transformed into a feeling of wholeness and integrity giving energy and the capacity for joy in life.

When a disturbing event occurs, it can get locked in your nervous system with the original picture, sounds, thoughts and feelings.  This material can combine factual material but with false messages about you. Most of the time, there are visual images, thoughts, or body sensations that represent the event or feelings about it.  EMDR seems to unlock the nervous system and allow the brain to process these components much like a computer defragments the file system.  This may be what happens in dream sleep.  Alternating brain stimulation through either eye movements, sound, or touch may help to process the unconscious material.  It is important to remember that it is your own brain that will be doing the healing and that you are the one in control.

What happens during this process is that a new pattern of viewing the event and thoughts develops.  The result is that the emotional effect of the event is PERMANENTLY and POSITIVELY changed.  This change will have a very positive effect on your future and the way you react and handle similar issues.

I will conduct the alternating stimulation and perform a simple check on what you are experiencing.  I need to know exactly what you experience through your clear feedback.  Sometimes, when I check, things will have changed, but not always.  I’ll ask you how you feel from 0 to 10.  Sometimes it will change and sometimes it won’t.  I may ask if something else comes up.  Occasionally it may seem that someone has a remote control to your brain and the channel is being changed.  There are no “supposed to’s” in this process.  So, just give as accurate feedback as you can as to what is happening in your picture, thoughts, or body sensations.  Don’t worry about whether it should be happening or not.  Let whatever happens, happen.  We’ll talk about the process after we are through.

Often it helps to create a sense of distance between yourself and the painful experience.  Imagine riding on a train and watching the scenery go by or watching the images on a movie screen.

How successful is EMDR?

I have been trained to perform EMDR.  Research studies are based on the work of clinicians trained to do this procedure.  There have been more studies demonstrating success using EMDR for Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than any other strategy.  Here are a few research study results which have been reported:
 

1. Children experienced healing of the symptoms caused by the trauma of domestic violence, abuse or natural disaster.

2. Excessive grief due to the loss of a loved one or to line-of-duty deaths such as train engineers, policemen, emergency room workers, and cancer personnel gained much
 relief

3. Rape victims are now able to lead normal lives and have intimate relationships.  A study at Yale indicated that ALL symptoms of PTSD were relieved within THREE sessions for single-trauma victims.

4. Clients at all stages of addictive behaviors now show stable recovery and decreased tendency to relapse.

5. Persons with phobias and panic disorder revealed a rapid reduction of fear and symptoms

6. Crime victims and police officers are no longer disturbed by the aftereffects of violent assaults.

7. Pain reduction has been achieved by EMDR for patients having chronic pain.

8.  80% of veterans who had flashbacks, nightmares, and other PTSD gained relief in
 12 sessions.  They no longer met the criteria for PTSD or depression.

9. People who have to give public speeches or perform in any way have benefitted and gained confidence and self-confidence from EMDR.

10. After only three sessions, 84-90% of civilian trauma victims no longer met the criteria for PTSD.

11. Of 445 trained clinicians who had treated over 10,000 clients using EMDR, 76% reported greater positive effects with EMDR than with other methods they had used