Shapiro technique: a unique method for solving psychological problems. Therapy for panic attacks using the DPDH method

Francine Shapiro’s simple but quite effective technique, the EMDR method (eye movement desensitization), initially worked well in the psychotherapy of post-traumatic stress disorder. Sometimes, the EMDR technique is used independently as a method of erasing emotional memories that bring mental suffering to a person.

As can be seen from the figure, the method of EMDR, desensitization and processing of psychological trauma by eye movements, resembles the principles of NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming), where each eye movement (direction of gaze) is directly related to human representative systems (vision, hearing, kinesthetics). However, the Shapiro method (EMDR) does not focus on human sensors (sense organs).

How to use the EMDR method yourself to process psychotrauma and severe stress from the past

Serious stress, emotional experiences, and psychological traumas experienced in the past, such as, for example, rape, military operations, natural disasters, accidents and catastrophes, leave a deep mark on the human psyche. The EMDR method will help you erase emotional, traumatic memories on your own, processing them through eye movements into something neutral or even positive.

EMDR is used independently in cases where you clearly realize that the cause of your current (here and now) experiences, reactions to stress, fears and phobias..., other neurotic conditions is psychotrauma, severe stress experienced from the past.

Using the EMDR technique yourself - step-by-step instructions

So, to use the EMDR technique yourself, you need to sit comfortably in front of a free wall. You can turn on relaxing music (see music therapy), the lighting should not be bright, for better relaxation you can breathe a little deeply with your stomach.

Take a small flashlight or laser pointer in your fingers, which you will guide along the wall opposite.
Prepare in advance your traumatic memory that you want to process through eye movements (“hanging” in the psychotrauma, in order to avoid the activation of strong experiences, it is not necessary yet, just know what you will be working with).

There will be three EMDR steps in total., by performing which you will be able to independently process your traumatic events from the past, thereby improving your psycho-emotional state in the present.

1. step: Having relaxed and pointing the light pointer (flashlight) at the wall opposite, you, with a light movement of just your fingers (not the whole hand), slowly move the beam along the wall left and right (direct gaze), fix your eyes on the light spot and move them along with the beam - left and right .

   Your gaze is focused on a spot of light - this is the foreground. At the same time, try to see in the background, looking as if through a wall, what happened to you in the past. At the same time, processing traumatic information, imagining something neutral or positive in fantasy.

   Continue doing EMDR for 3-5-10 minutes until you feel that negative past gradually dissipating, turning into something normal.

   Take a sharp, deep breath and look around the room, alternately focusing your attention on different objects. Rate your emotional state on a 100% scale: 0 - no negative emotion at all - 100% - strong emotion.

   You can move to the next step after rest, or the next day - depending on your energy and emotionality.

2. step: You do the same thing, only move the flashlight and with it the eye - in the form of a recumbent figure eight (infinity sign).
3. step: The same EMDR technique, but the eye movements are now in a circle (counterclockwise).

Since you will use the desensitization method through eye movements yourself, you may not be able to completely process the trauma and erase negative emotional memories the first time. There will be progress, of course, but to completely process the stress from the past, it is worth repeating the EMDR technique one more time.

Also, you can ask a loved one to direct the flashlight beam for you, being behind you, out of sight, thereby freeing you from unnecessary psychoenergetic costs.

Attention! If you have several psychological traumas in the past, then before processing emotions you need to make a list of problems in the form of a hierarchy. And start working with the simplest stressful situations imprinted in the psyche.

(Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, EMDR) was developed by an American Francine Shapiro and has been used very successfully in the treatment of PTSD. In 1987, while walking, she noticed that eye movements reduced stressful memories.

The method is based on the idea that any traumatic information is unconsciously processed and absorbed by the brain during sleep- V REM sleep phase(other names: rapid eye movement sleep phase, REM sleep, REM phase from rapid eye movement). It is during this phase of sleep that we dream. Severe psychological trauma disrupts the natural process of information processing, which leads to recurring nightmares with awakenings and, of course, to distortions of REM sleep. Treatment with repeated series of eye movements unblocks and accelerates the processing of traumatic experiences.

From 1-2 to 6-16 treatment sessions lasting 1-1.5 hours are carried out. Average frequency - 1-2 times a week.

Standard desensitization and reprocessing procedure contains eye movements 8 stages.

1) Security assessment

Psychotherapist analyzes the entire clinical picture and identifies treatment goals. The EMDR method should only be used with patients who are able to cope with the possible high level of anxiety during the session. For this reason, the psychotherapist first helps to cope with current problems and only then takes on long-standing psychological traumas. At the end, the future is also worked out by creating and consolidating it in the patient’s imagination “ positive example» behavior.

At this stage, patients also learn to reduce stress levels by using:

• imagination safe place,
• technology luminous flux(imagining a healing ray of light that penetrates the body),
• independent using eye movements or neuromuscular relaxation.

2) Preparation

Establish productive trusting relationship with the patient, explain the essence of the method of desensitization and processing by eye movements. Find out what types of eye movements of the proposed ones are the most comfortable for the patient. The appearance of pain in the eyes when performing movements requires immediate cessation of treatment with consultation of an ophthalmologist to clarify possible contraindications to stress on the extraocular muscles.

For testing the psychotherapist shows 2 touching fingers of his hand at a distance of 30-35 cm from the patient’s face, and then, with gradual acceleration, moves his fingers left and right to the edge of the visual field. Select the optimal distance to the fingers, hand height, speed of movement (maximum is required, but without discomfort). If the patient cannot follow his fingers or a malfunction occurs (stopping, involuntary eye movements), it is usually enough for the patient to press his fingers on his closed eyes. They check the effectiveness of other eye movements - in a circle, diagonally, figure eight. Vertical eye movements (up and down) calm and reduce anxiety, suppress dizziness and nausea.

One eye movement is a complete cycle back and forth. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing techniques use series of 24 movements, the number of which can be increased to 36 or more.

If eye movements are impossible or uncomfortable, use alternative stimulation methods:

• alternately tapping on the patient's palms lying on his knees and facing upward,
• alternately doctor snapping fingers near the ears.

To reduce anxiety, the patient is taught "Safe Place" technique. It is suggested to remember a calm place where he felt completely safe and focus on this image. The image is strengthened by the suggestion of the psychotherapist, as well as 4-6 series of eye movements. In the future, if necessary, the patient can on one's own return to a safe place in your imagination.

It is also explained to the patient that he can interrupt the procedure at any time by raising your hand or giving another conditioned signal. This serves as an additional factor for patient safety.

3) Determination of the subject of influence

The psychotherapist determines target of influence. In PTSD, the targets of influence can be a traumatic event, nightmares and other experiences.

After choosing the target of treatment, the patient is offered choose an image that reflects the most unpleasant part traumatic event and then asked to express in words painful self-image(in the present tense and on one’s own behalf), for example: “ I'm nothing», « I did something bad», « I can't trust myself», « I don't deserve respect" and etc.

Next you need to determine positive presentation- what the patient wants to be at the present time, when he remembers a traumatic situation: “ I'm good the way I am», « I can trust myself», « I control myself», « I did the best I could», « I can handle this" This positive representation is used later, in stage 5 (installation). A positive self-image facilitates the correct reassessment of events and contributes to a more adequate attitude towards them. The patient is asked to intuitively evaluate the adequacy of such self-presentation using a 7-point scale (SSP). If 1 (minimum) point is scored, meaning “ complete inconsistency with the true self-image", the therapist must weigh the feasibility of the patient's wishes.

After this, the patient calls out loud negative emotions that arise when focusing on psychotrauma and painful ideas about oneself, and also assesses the level of anxiety by Subjective Anxiety Scale(SHSB) from 0 (complete rest) to 10 points (maximum anxiety).

4) Desensitization

The goal is to reduce the patient's anxiety level.

At this stage the patient should follow your finger movements with your eyes psychotherapist, simultaneously remembering the most unpleasant part of the traumatic event and at the same time repeating to himself (not out loud) painful ideas like “ I'm nothing», « I did something bad" After each series of eye movements, the patient is told: “ Now rest. Inhale and exhale. Let everything go as it goes" Then they ask if there are any changes in visual images, thoughts, emotions and physical sensations (these are indicators of internal processing of psychological trauma).

Usually, alternating such series of eye movements with rest leads to a decrease in emotional and physical stress, and memories become more comfortable. The goal of the desensitization stage is to reduce the patient's level of anxiety when remembering psychological trauma to a minimum level of 0 or 1 point on the Subjective Anxiety Scale (SBA).

During treatment using the method of desensitization and processing with eye movements, it is possible short-term increase in negative emotions or reactivity (abreaction). However, the response occurs a little differently than with hypnosis, because the patient retains dual focusing(on psychological trauma and a sense of safety in the present) in contrast to complete immersion during hypnosis. During an EMDR session, regulation occurs 4-5 times faster than in trance. If the response has begun, the psychotherapist increases the number of eye movements to 36 or more in order to, if possible, complete the response during the current series.

If after 2 consecutive series of eye movements the patient does not feel any changes in thoughts and emotions, it is necessary change the direction of eye movements. The ineffectiveness of changing 2-3 directions of eye movement indicates blocked processing (additional strategies.

Additional strategies for blocked processing:

1) Changing direction, duration, speed or scope eye movements. It’s best to combine these techniques.

2) During the selection of eye movements, the patient is asked focus only on sensations in the body(without the image of psychological trauma and positive self-image).

3) Patient stimulation openly express suppressed emotions and move freely. At the same time, eye movements are performed.

4) Pressure by the patient (finger, hand) at the site of discomfort, while negative sensations decrease or associative images appear, which are influenced in the future.

5) Focusing on a different aspect of the event(think about a different image of psychotrauma, change the brightness of the image, recolor it in black and white). Or concentrate on the most disturbing sound stimulus.

6) Cognitive Interweaving- combine the patient’s thoughts and feelings with the psychotherapist’s auxiliary information. Various options for cognitive interweaving are possible:

1. psychotherapist explains to patient correct understanding of past events and his role. The patient thinks about what was said while performing a series of eye movements.
2. redefining the traumatic situation through contacting persons significant to the patient. For example, a participant in military operations felt guilt because his best friend in battle did not comply with the commander’s order to duck and was killed, while the patient himself ducked and remained alive. The psychotherapist advised me to think about what the patient would tell me to do if the patient’s 16-year-old son were in the friend’s place. After answering “duck down!” and a series of eye movements, the feeling of guilt decreased significantly, and the elaboration of the situation was completed.
3. usage suitable analogies(metaphors) in the form of parables, stories or examples from life. The psychotherapist draws parallels with the patient's situation and gives hidden clues to resolve the problem. This can be done both during the series of eye movements and before it, with a suggestion to think about it during the series.
4. Socratic dialogue(named after the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates). During the conversation, the psychotherapist consistently asks questions, leading the patient to a certain logical conclusion. After the invitation to think, a series of eye movements is carried out.

During the processing of the main psychotrauma in the patient’s consciousness, additional negative memories. They should be made the object of focus for the next series of eye movements. During the treatment of PTSD in combatants, it is necessary to process all associative material (combat episodes, memories, sounds, sensations, etc.).

When all associations have been processed, you should return to the initial goal(psychotrauma) to perform additional series of eye movements. If no new memories appear within 2-3 episodes, and the level of anxiety according to the SSB is not higher than 1 point out of 10 (ideally 0 points), then they move on to the next (5th) stage - installation.

5) Installation

The goal is to increase and consolidate the patient’s self-esteem by associating positive self-image with psychotrauma.

After desensitization (stage 4), the patient is asked to remember his positive presentation(how he wanted to see himself at stage 3) and ask if it is suitable now. Many patients clarify or even change the self-image that is meaningful to them.

The patient is then offered think about psychotrauma taking into account the voiced positive idea of ​​\u200b\u200boneself and answer how true it is. The patient is asked to remember the psychological trauma from the perspective of a positive self-image, while the psychotherapist performs the number of series of eye movements necessary to consolidate the effect.

If the consolidation was completely successful (7 points on a subjective 7-point scale) The scale of correspondence of ideas), then proceed to the body scanning stage (6th stage). If, due to incomplete processing of additional memories and negative beliefs, the desired (maximum) level of consolidation cannot be achieved, then EMDR treatment is postponed to the next session, and this one is completed (stage 7 - completion).

6) Body scan

The goal is to eliminate residual discomfort in the body.

If consolidation at the installation stage is successful (6-7 points on a subjective 7-point scale), scanning is carried out. The patient is asked to close his eyes and, imagining the psychotrauma and a positive self-image, mentally walk through all parts of your body from head to toe.

Any areas of discomfort or unusual sensations should be reported. If discomfort is detected somewhere, it is worked through with new series of eye movements. If there are no sensations at all, then a series of eye movements is performed. When pleasant sensations arise, they are enhanced with an additional series of EMDR. Sometimes you have to go back several stages to work through new negative memories that have surfaced.

7) Completion

The goal is for the patient to achieve emotional balance, regardless of the completeness of the processing of psychotrauma.

To do this, the psychotherapist uses hypnosis or the “Safe Place” technique(described in stage 2). If processing is not completed, then after the session there is likely to be an unconscious continuation of processing. In such cases, the patient is advised to write down (remember) disturbing thoughts, memories and dreams. They can become new targets for intervention in EMDR sessions.

8〉 Revaluation

The goal is to check the effect of the previous treatment session.

Reassessment is carried out before each new eye movement desensitization and reprocessing session. Psychotherapist evaluates patient's response to previously processed goals. New goals can be processed only after the previous ones have been completely processed and assimilated.

Features of the EMDR method in the treatment of combatants

Many veterans of military conflicts suffer from painful feelings of self-blame in connection with their actions during hostilities. Needs to be explained to the patient:

1. if the patient were really as bad a person as he believes, then I wouldn't suffer so much. Bad people are not tormented by their conscience for decades.
2. suffering already will not help the dead in any way, but will greatly interfere with the survivors’ ability to live fully.
3. painful symptoms of PTSD are the result of the retention of psychotrauma in the neural networks of the brain, and treatment will help you get rid of the “stuck” negativity. It is important to note that the acquired combat experience will be retained in the memory, because treatment is aimed only at getting rid of suffering and experiences, and not at memory loss for military events. Treatment will help you live a more fulfilling life, give you more opportunities to honor the memory of those killed and help former colleagues in difficult times.

Apart from self-blame, a big problem is outbursts of uncontrollable anger. They can lead to family breakdown and problems with the law. Treatment with a psychotherapist will help you better control your behavior. Additionally patients are taught:

• "Safe Place" technique
• relaxation exercises,
• independent use of eye movements for calming.

Treatment of patients with PTSD using the EMDR method is highly effective and can completely eliminate unpleasant symptoms. It is possible to combine EMDR with other psychotherapeutic techniques, as well as with medications.

Using the EMDR method in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions

Minimum 11% former combatants need sexological help. In the presence of PTSD, this level is even higher, but most of them, for various reasons, do not turn to a sexologist. Most common following problems:

• anxious anticipation of sexual failure (psychogenic erectile dysfunction),
• consequences of alcohol abuse,
• problems in relationships with people due to symptoms of PTSD.

Against the background of sexual failures, such people experience increased jealousy, A outbursts of anger becoming increasingly destructive and unpredictable. Based on the above, treatment of sexual disorders should be included in the rehabilitation program for people with PTSD, which will allow them to increase self-esteem, achieve psychological comfort and harmonize relationships in marriage.

You can help patients who:

• can't forget their failures in bed,
• received negative information about their potency,
• have false beliefs about sexuality,
• remember any events that cause anxiety and fear of sexual intercourse.

2-6 sessions are carried out with a frequency of 1-2 per week. The duration of each is 1-1.5 hours.

EMDR

EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing(English EMDR (English) Russian

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a psychotherapy method developed by Francine Shapiro to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by experiencing stressful events, such as violence or participation in military operations. According to Shapiro's theory, when a person experiences a traumatic experience or distress, the experience may overwhelm his normal cognitive and neurological coping mechanisms, and the memory and stimuli associated with the event are processed inappropriately and stored dysfunctionally in isolated memory networks. The goal of EMDR therapy is to process these distressing memories, reduce their lingering influence, and allow the client to develop more adaptive coping mechanisms.

About the method

EMDR uses a structured eight-phase approach (see below) that addresses past, present and future aspects of traumatic experiences and dysfunctionally stored stressful memories. During the reprocessing phase of EMDR, the client focuses on disturbing memories for short sets of 15-30 seconds. In this case, the client simultaneously focuses on alternative stimulation (for example, therapist-directed eye movements, hand taps, or bilateral auditory stimuli)

In each set of this double attention, the client is asked about associative information that arises during the procedure. New material usually becomes the focus of the next set. The process of maintaining dual attention to the alternative stimulus and personal associations is repeated many times during the session. When the traumatic memory network is activated, the client may re-experience aspects of the original event, often causing an inappropriate overreaction. This explains why people who have experienced or observed a traumatic incident may experience recurring sensory flashbacks, thoughts, beliefs, or dreams. Unprocessed memories of a traumatic event can reach high levels of sensory or emotional intensity even many years after the event.

In theory, EMDR works directly with memory networks and enhances information processing by building associations between distressing memories and more adaptive information stored in other semantic memory networks. It is hypothesized that distressing memories are transformed when new connections are coupled with more positive and realistic information. This leads to a transformation of the emotional, sensory and cognitive components of memory; once the memory is accessed, the person is no longer distressed. Instead, he/she remembers the incident from a new perspective, new insight, resolution of cognitive distortions, reduction of emotional distress, and release of memory-related physiological arousal.

When the distress or traumatic event is isolated or a single incident (eg, a traffic accident), approximately three sessions are required to complete treatment. If the person experiences multiple traumatic events leading to health problems - such as physical, sexual or emotional abuse, parental neglect, serious illness, accident, serious injury or impairment leading to chronic impairment of health and well-being, and war-related trauma , treatment can be lengthy and complex, multiple injuries may require more sessions to complete healing and lasting results.

There are two opinions regarding the mechanisms of EMDR therapy. Shapiro says that despite the different processes that make up EMDR, eye movements add effectiveness by triggering neurological and physiological changes that facilitate the processing of traumatic memories in therapy. Another view is that eye movement is not a necessary component, but an epiphenomenon, a by-product, and EMDR is simply a form of desensitization.

Therapy process

Process and procedures of therapy according to Shapiro (2001)

• Phase 1

The first session discusses the patient's history and treatment plan. During the process, the therapist identifies and clarifies the goals of EMDR. A goal (or target) refers to disturbing topics, events, feelings, or memories and is used as the initial focus of EMDR. Maladaptive beliefs (eg, “I can’t trust people” or “I can’t protect myself”) are also identified.

• Phase 2

Before beginning EMDR for the first time, it is recommended that the client choose a “safe place”—an image or memory that evokes a feeling of comfort and a positive self-image. This "safe place" can be used later to complete an unfinished session or to help the client endure difficult episodes of the session.

• Phase 3

Before eye movements begin, when setting a goal for processing, there is an image capturing the event that represents the goal and the anxiety associated with it. This imagery is used to focus on the goal and identify negative cognitions (NCs), a negative judgment about oneself that seems most true when the client focuses on the imagery of the event. Positive cognition (PC) is also defined - a positive statement about oneself, preferable to a negative one.

• Phase 4

The therapist asks the client to focus simultaneously on the image, the negative cognition, and the disturbing emotion or sensation in the body. Next, the therapist asks the client to follow the moving object with his eyes, the object moves alternatively from side to side in such a way that the client's eyes also move from side to side. After a set of eye movements, the client is asked to briefly report what he observes: it could be a thought, a feeling, a physical sensation, an image, a memory, or a change in the above. In the client's initial instruction, the therapist asks the client to focus on this thought and begins a new series of eye movements. Under some conditions, however, the therapist directs the client's attention to the original target memory or to other images, thoughts, feelings, fantasies, physical sensations, or memories. From time to time, the therapist may ask the client to rate his or her current level of distress. The desensitization phase ends when the Subjective Anxiety Unit Scale scores reach 0 or 1.

• Phase 5

“Installation phase”: The therapist asks the client to address the positive cognition if it is still relevant to him. After Phase 4, the client's view of the event/original image representing the event may change greatly and another positive cognition (self-statement) may be required. Next, the client is asked to simultaneously hold the image of the event and the new positive cognition. The therapist also asks how authentic this statement feels on a scale from 1 to 7. Next, a new set of eye movements is launched.

• Phase 6.

Body scan: The therapist asks if the client has any sensations of pain, discomfort, or stress in the client’s body. If so, the client is asked to concentrate on these emerging sensations and a new set of bilateral stimulation is started.

• Phase 7

Debriefing: The therapist provides necessary information and support.

• Phase 8

Reappraisal: At the beginning of the next session, the client reviews the past week, noting any sensations or experiences. The level of anxiety arising from the experiences associated with the purpose of work in the previous session is assessed.

EMDR also uses a three-phase approach, addressing the past, present, and future aspects of the target memories.

Mechanism

The theory behind EMDR treatment suggests that the process helps the sufferer more fully process disturbing memories, which reduces distress. EMDR is based on the Adaptive Information Processing Model (API), which suggests that symptoms arise when events are inadequately processed, and can be relieved when the memory is completely processed. EMDR is an integrative therapy that synthesizes elements from many traditional psychological orientations, such as psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, experiential, physiological, or interpersonal therapies. A unique aspect of the method is the component of bilateral brain stimulation, such as eye movements, bilateral auditory stimuli, tactile stimulation combined with cognition, visual imagery and body sensations. EMDR also uses dual attention, which allows the person to move in therapy between traumatic material and the safety of the present moment. This helps prevent retraumatization caused by imagining (exposure) of disturbing memories.

There is currently no definitive explanation for how EMDR works. There is empirical research regarding various explanations for how external stimuli, such as eye movements, may facilitate the processing of traumatic memories.

Empirical evidence and comparative studies

Recent studies evaluate EMDR as an effective treatment method

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), in English version EMDR is a technique created by Francine Shapiro in 1987.

It was originally intended to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), caused by experiencing stressful events such as:

• violence
• participation in hostilities,
• evidence of disasters
• and any other traumatic memories.

The basis of the technique is multidirectional eye movements of the client (patient).

In the classic version, to perform the technique you need an assistant who will move his fingers in front of your eyes. Using the video below, you can perform the EMDR technique yourself.

The EMDR technique allows you to literally in 30 minutes:

• Relieve stress, emotional fatigue
• Get rid of an unpleasant memory
• Work through the consequences of psychological trauma

To perform the technique, expand the video to full screen and place the monitor (laptop or tablet) at eye level.

1. Remember the unpleasant experience (memory) that you want to get rid of, and rate on a scale from 0 to 10 (where “0” is complete indifference, and “10” is the most intense possible experience) how much it bothers you.
2. Feel this experience in your body. Feel where exactly you are experiencing unpleasant sensations, imagine and describe what they are like.
3. Remember (if possible) the words or sounds that accompanied you at the moment of the formation of this experience.
4. Imagine, observing the sensations in your body, what image (“picture” of the situation) appears before your eyes when you feel your experience.
5. Place (transport in your imagination) this image behind the monitor on which you will watch the video. Turn on the full-screen video, and in the foreground watch the moving white dot on the screen, in the “background” watch the image behind the monitor and your sensations in the body.

EMDR is a simple and effective universal technique. For example, it can be used to reassess an unpleasant situation in the past, to change the attitude towards a person or action, to remove fears and unpleasant experiences. Because of its versatility, EMDR is quite suitable for the role of “everyday technology”.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. True, the name is somewhat deceiving. “Desensitization” is a way to remove unpleasant tension, fear, etc., but the possibilities of the technique are much wider. “Eye movement” is also somewhat limited - you can also use arms, legs, sounds, etc. But the name stuck. Another name: “bilateral stimulation of the cerebral hemispheres.”

The method was developed by Doctor of Psychology Francine Shapiro in 1987. At first it was mainly used to work with post-traumatic disorders, but then it began to be actively used in counseling and coaching. Now there are various centers and associations for EMDR therapy. One of the options for integrating EMDR and NLP approaches is WingWave technology.

The technique consists of sequentially “switching on” the hemispheres at a certain frequency. In this case, the person enters a type of trance in which he himself can resolve the situation. Similar techniques include New Code NLP games, many Ericksonian hypnosis techniques, etc.

Description of EMDR in NLP format:

In EMDR, three methods are usually used to switch hemispheres:
- moving your eyes right - left;
- clapping your hands on your shoulders (hands crosswise on your shoulders);
- slapping your palms on your thighs (hands rest on your hips).

You can also use animation - to do this, just follow the movement of the orange circle.

Full movement - eyes left and right, both hands clapping - in one second.
You can go a little faster, or a little slower - be guided by yourself.

The maximum time per session is 30 seconds. There is no point in doing more.
If you experience any unpleasant sensations during the session, such as nausea, dizziness, etc. – stop the session. Rarely, but it happens. Usually with eye movement. Then try hand clapping. If in this case you feel dizzy, it is quite possible that EMDR is not for you.

Common feelings at the end of a session are relaxation and the desire to take a deep breath. When you feel the urge to inhale, stop moving your eyes (tapping your shoulders or hips) and inhale deeply.
It’s good if you look up when you inhale, and down when you exhale.

However, to get results, you usually need to do several EMDR sessions – from three to ten. With each session, the perception of the problem and the feelings associated with it change slightly.

What is it used for:

The technique is quite universal and can be used in a variety of situations:
- change the assessment of the situation;
- remove strong emotions;
- change beliefs;
- make a choice;
- determine the goal;
- remove the phobia;
- remove obsession;
- transfer a resource from one context to another.

Actually, the technique makes it possible for the unconscious to make the necessary change, but for this you first need to give suitable instructions.

BY STEP:

1. What are we changing?
Determine what exactly you want to change.

2. Focus on the situation
Become aware of the feeling associated with this assessment and concentrate on it. Determine its kinesthetic submodalities:
- where it is located (most often in the abdomen or chest);
- what is the size of this experience;
- intensity;
- quality: tension, compression, expansion, cold, vibration, movement.

For example:
- an offensive situation in the past - pressure in the chest area;
- fear that I will be late for work - a lump in the stomach;
- irritation about the delay in salary - tightness in the throat.

You can also use a visual image of the situation. But then it is better to use not eye movement - it is difficult to simultaneously hold the image and move your eyes - but clapping your palms. In this case, it is also desirable to determine visual submodalities:
- location of the image;
- size;
- distance;
- brightness;
- presence of movement;
- focus;
- association/dissociation;
and so on.

In the same way, you can concentrate on a sound - for example, on the voice of a person who annoys you. And, similarly, auditory submodalities are revealed:
- volume;
- direction of sound;
- height;
- mono/stereo;
- speed.
In short, we need to concentrate on something related to what we are changing: a feeling, a picture or a sound.

3. Do one EMDR session
That is, move your eyes/knock yourself on your shoulders with your hands crosswise/knock yourself with your hands on your thighs until you want to inhale. Or until 30 seconds have passed.

4. Track how your assessment of the situation has changed
Please note that in EMDR the process of change usually occurs over several “sessions”: for example, a sensation will gradually change or weaken in some way until it disappears or becomes barely noticeable. And the picture will become dimmer and move away. And the voice will become quieter.
Or at some point you will simply feel that enough is enough.

Usually the result is obtained after 3-4, and sometimes 7-9 sessions. But after each session there is usually some change. So you need to track how the score has changed and understand what exactly it now means:

There was irritation - a pulling sensation from the stomach to the chest, now its intensity has simply decreased;

There was fear - a twisting sensation in the lower abdomen - now this feeling has weakened and is more reminiscent of strong fear;

Previously, there was excitement, it felt like a bursting in the chest, now instead of bursting there is vibration and is perceived more as an expectation or a warning.

5. Do another EMDR session
If you think it's worth continuing, do another EMDR session. Repeat steps 3 and 6 until you get the change you want, or until you feel it's worth finishing the process.

But if you think that you are satisfied with the new assessment or if the feeling after the last session has not changed, you can finish.

6. Functionality check
Imagine how you now behave in the situation you worked with. How have your feelings changed and how do you now behave in this situation?

EXAMPLES OF USING

Unpleasant situation: focus on the feeling/image/sound associated with that situation and do EMDR sessions until you get an acceptable rating.

Strong emotion: focus on the sensation, do as many EMDR sessions as necessary to reduce the experience to an acceptable level.
Changing Beliefs: State the belief you want to change. Visualize it. Do an EMDR session. Examine the resulting image and formulate what the belief now sounds like. Repeat the process if necessary.

Resource transfer: determine the situation in which you need to add a resource and what exactly you will add. Visualize the resource as an image. Give the command to add a resource to the situation. Continue the EMDR session(s) until the resource is added.

Choice: visualize images of the choices and mentally place these choices in front of you. Do an EMDR session and notice how the images change - usually one becomes brighter, closer, clearer, and the second moves away and dims. Repeat until the differences between the images are sufficient.

Goal setting: create an image of your current idea of ​​the goal and speak its description. Do an EMDR session. Track changes in the image and formulate a current description of the goal. Repeat until you decide that the idea of ​​the goal is most suitable for you (clear, distinct, definite, etc.)

Bilateral stimulation of the functional activity of the cerebral hemispheres, e.g. using the EMDR method

At the end of the 80s. American psychotherapist Francine Shapiro discovered and developed an unusual method of treating post-traumatic stress. 7 years ago, the German magazine “SPIEGEL” gave this new EMDR method for Germany the name “Winke-Winke Therapy” (*from German Wink - wave). The public was delighted and at the same time alarmed by this new idea that came from America, with the help of which it became possible to remove mental blockades with one movement of the fingers. Indeed, in the practice of this method, rapid movements of the fingers in front of the patient’s eyes play a decisive role (while the patient follows the movements of the fingers with his eyes). The resulting rapid eye movements resemble the REM phase, typical for all people in sleep: Rapid Eye Movement. The abbreviation EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.

Of course, even before the advent of EMDR, some therapeutic stimulation techniques using eye movements were known - but their popularity was not as rapid as in the case of the EMDR method. In kinesiology, for example, they force the eyes to follow a stationary target; techniques using a wristwatch as a pendulum are also known (classical hypnosis). Also in yoga - with its oldest physiotherapeutic methods in the world - there are a number of exercises for the eyes. Even in traditional oriental dances, rapid eye movements in different directions are also given importance; they are learned specifically, like dance steps, and along with the aesthetic function they also perform a health-improving function.

More and more experts suggest that the positive effects of these stimulation techniques are due to optimal interaction between both hemispheres and all areas of the cerebral cortex. Therefore, in the EMDR technique, the functional activity of the brain is stimulated not only through eye movements, but also uses (as in other techniques) auditory and tactile impulses exerted on the left/right hemispheres of the brain. This method is supported, for example, in various areas of kinesiology, where various techniques are used related to special movements of the arms and legs to improve academic performance. And followers of neurolinguistic programming know that intervention in brain activity is considered successful only if after the session the patient sits or stands in a completely symmetrical position due to the action of an internal impulse - perhaps this is a sign that after the session all areas of the brain responsible for the necessary changes began to interact optimally.

These well-known premises served as the basis for the methodology w ing w ave-coaching, which combines all known techniques for bilateral stimulation of the functional activity of the cerebral hemispheres. The client always chooses the appropriate technique (visual, auditory or tactile): the coach always works with the technique that had the most positive impact on the client. Because it is precisely this that clearly influences the generation of brilliant ideas, promoting the best interaction of the client with his mental resources. The word “wing” in the technique w ing w ave-coaching indicates that purposeful and safe “flight” is only possible if the “wings” - the load-bearing surfaces - are optimally adjusted to each other - similar to how both hemispheres of the brain should function in concert.

Despite the apparent simplicity of application, the EMDR technique is today considered one of the most effective psychotherapeutic methods for the treatment of post-traumatic mental disorders. Numerous positive results indicate the positive impact of methods of targeted bilateral stimulation of the functional activity of the cerebral hemispheres when used in therapy and coaching. Geo magazine writes in its May 2002 issue, “EMDR, meanwhile, is considered a well-studied post-traumatic therapy.” Also, the Hamburg medical publication “Hamburger Ärzteblatt“ 10/01 classifies this technique as a well-studied one.

Classic sources are both books by F. Shapiro, “EMDR – Fundamentals and Practice”, Paderborn: Junfermann Publishing House 1999, and also: “EMDR in Action” – Practical application of a new course of short-term therapy, Paderborn: Junfermann Publishing House 2001.

Description of the EMDR method (EMDR)

You can conduct the session yourself.

“The EMDR technique is based on a chance observation that was made in May 1987. One day, while walking in the park, I noticed that some thoughts that were bothering me suddenly disappeared. I also noticed that if I brought up these thoughts again in my mind, they no longer have such a negative effect and do not seem as real as before.

Previous experience has taught me that all disturbing thoughts tend to form a kind of vicious circle - once they appear, they tend to return again and again until you make a conscious effort to stop them or change their character. What caught my attention that day, however, was that the thoughts that had been troubling me disappeared and changed their character without any conscious effort on my part.

Amazed by this, I began to pay close attention to everything that was happening. I noticed that when disturbing thoughts arose, my eyes spontaneously began to quickly move from side to side and up and down diagonally.

Then the thoughts that were bothering me disappeared, and when I deliberately tried to remember them, the negative charge inherent in these thoughts was significantly reduced.

Noticing this, I began to make deliberate movements with my eyes, concentrating my attention on various unpleasant thoughts and memories. I noticed that all these thoughts also disappeared and lost their negative emotional connotation.

Realizing all the potential benefits of this effect, I became very excited.

A few days later, I tried to apply my discovery to other people: friends, colleagues and participants in psychological seminars that I was attending at the time. They had a large number of a wide variety of non-pathological complaints, just like, probably, all people.

When I asked, “What would you like to work on?”, people usually talked about memories, ideas, or situations that were currently bothering them. Moreover, their complaints ranged widely from various humiliations in early childhood to the grievances currently experienced.

Then I showed them how to quickly move their eyes from side to side, asking them to repeat these movements after me, focusing on their problems.

First of all, I discovered that most people do not have voluntary control of the muscles responsible for eye movements and cannot continue these movements indefinitely.

Intending to continue my research, I asked my friends to follow the movements of my finger with their eyes, moving my hand from side to side so that the eyes moved at approximately the same speed and in the same direction as during my first experiment in the park.

This method turned out to be much more effective, but I noticed that although after this procedure people began to feel clearly better, they continued to remain fixated on the problems that were bothering them. To overcome this fixation, I tried different types of eye movements (faster, slower, in different directions), suggesting that I focus on different things - for example, different aspects of my memories or what feelings are associated with those memories.

I then began to study what forms of work would produce the best results, developing standard ways of starting and ending eye movement sessions that would produce the greatest positive effect.

After about six months, I developed a standard procedure that clearly resulted in fewer complaints. Because my focus from the very beginning was on the problem of reducing anxiety (as it was in my own experience), and my theoretical orientation at that time was primarily associated with a behaviorist approach, I called the procedure I discovered Eye Movement Desensitization (EMD).

Fragment of an EMDR session

The client's name is Eric, he is 39 years old and a programmer.

Psychotherapist: Let's start by imagining the face of the person you consider an incompetent employee. Look at that face and feel how incompetent he is. How would you rate his incompetence, from 0 to 10 points?

Eric: Seven points.

[The client imagines the employee's face and gives an initial rating of seven points of incompetence on the Subjective Units of Concern Scale.]

Psychotherapist: Focus on this feeling and follow my finger with your eyes (the client, under the guidance of the therapist, makes a series of eye movements). Fine. Now don't think about it; inhale and exhale. How are you feeling now?

Eric: I don't know. I think I'm feeling a little better. Before I came here, I was working through some things, and finally today I realized on an intellectual level... This is work... you know, I don't fit into the schedule, other people are unhappy, but... it always happens... I mean, in the computer business, someone is always late. So I started making some connections with all of this...

[This is the first channel of information opened during an EMDR session. The therapist then decides to return to the original goal.]

Psychotherapist: Fine. If you remember the employee's face again, how would you now determine the degree of his incompetence, from 0 to 10 points?

Eric: I think five points.

Psychotherapist: Hold this image (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Fine. Now forget about it, take a breath and exhale. What happens now?

[As we will see, the new channel opened precisely because the client returned to the original goal. The second channel indicates a chain of associative material connected by the idea of ​​“personal acceptance.”]

Eric: I realized that my frustration was partly due to a difficult relationship with my boss, who was unable to appreciate the abilities of other people. I think I feel all of this a little better than others. But I think everyone would need to understand this. And until my boss recognizes my abilities, I will return again and again to the need to feel competent, as well as the need for other people to recognize my competence.

Psychotherapist: Think about all this (does the next series of eye movements). Fine. Now forget about all this, take a breath and exhale. How would you rate how you feel now?

Eric: Probably four or three points. Gradually, the realization comes to me that I don’t really need acceptance from other people. After all, I am already accepted by those who matter to me. But my boss is also one of these significant people, and I just don’t feel acceptance from him. Although this is, in essence, his problem, not mine (laughs).

[At this point, the traditional therapist may be tempted to engage in a discussion with the client about how to help him change his relationship system. However, in the case of EMDR this is contraindicated.

The therapist needs to ask the client to hold in his mind everything that he has just said, and then give him another series of eye movements to stimulate further processing. After this, the client will offer a new version of what is happening to him. As we will see, the client will reach a new plateau and the information will take on a more adaptive form.]

Psychotherapist: Fine. Think about it (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Fine. Now forget about it, take a breath and exhale. What's happening to you?

Eric: I think I've had enough of accepting it. I don't need anymore. I understand that the boss needs me now, so I won’t be left without work. It suits me.

Psychotherapist: Fine. Think about it (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Now forget about everything and breathe deeply. How are you feeling now?

Eric: It seems to me... that in a couple of months, the pressure of this whole situation of working to complete the project will ease, and he will clearly see...

Psychotherapist: Fine. Keep all this in mind (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Fine. Now forget about everything, take a breath and exhale. What's happening to you?

Eric: About the same.

[When the client does not notice any changes and feels relatively comfortable, the therapist may conclude that the client has completely “cleared” this second channel and that it needs to be brought back to the original goal.]

Psychotherapist: Fine. What happens if you fall back into the image of a person you perceive as incompetent? How are you feeling now?

Eric: He worries me. I know that in the future I may experience frustration with this face again, but I think that it will not be as strong.

[Note that although the client's anxiety level has decreased, it has not completely disappeared. During the next series of eye movements, the processing process stimulated information associatively hidden in the third channel. Here we find the influence of traumatic material associated with the Vietnam War: if anyone in Vietnam turned out to be incompetent, then this meant that such people were destined to die.]

Psychotherapist: Now imagine his face again and feel the incompetence (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Fine. Now forget about all this, take a breath and exhale. What do you feel?

Eric: I realized that in this case the stakes, in general, are not so high. I understand that I’m right, and he’s simply incompetent in this area, he’s trying to mind his own business and ruining everything... (laughs). I think all this can be looked at from the other side...

Psychotherapist: Indeed, you are right. Hold this in consciousness (carries out another series of eye movements). Fine. Now forget about all this, take a breath and exhale. How are you feeling now?

Eric: Oh, it's so nice to know... it's so nice to think that the stakes aren't really that high and that all these relationships are like several computers connected... and that as a result of all this, no one will die because you You can't look at what's happening from the other side...

Psychotherapist: Go back to this picture. What do you feel?

Eric: The comedy of it all!

[Since the two previous types of reaction were the same and the client felt relatively comfortable, the third channel could be considered cleared. After this, the original target was called again. Now it becomes obvious that the client's reaction to an incompetent employee has become completely different. Only after being released from the psychological pressure of the traumatic experience associated with Vietnam did the client begin to respond to what was happening more calmly.]

Psychotherapist: Yes.

Eric: I realized that this employee is generally a great guy. Very capable. And when I look at the mistakes he makes, they seem funny and funny to me - we all made such mistakes in the beginning when trying to do similar work. You know how it is when a problem arises and you solve a small part of it. The problem may be huge, but you boldly dig: “Is the problem huge? It’s okay, I can do it!”, because in fact you only saw a piece of it (laughs). And because you're so excited about finding that piece, you decide that that's the whole problem... Other people can see it just as clearly, and often manage to deal with these things better. It's all quite funny... You know: “What do you want from him at his level?” It’s just that others tolerate it more easily, but everyone understands it, and when a person believes that he can solve every problem in the world, this is a kind of cunning and self-deception.

Psychotherapist: Fine. Think about it (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Now erase it all, inhale and exhale. How are you feeling now?

Eric: About the same.

Psychotherapist: Wonderful.

Eric: Yes, I feel good. It turns out that it’s so nice to no longer feel annoyed, no longer feel angry, as I was last week. Then everything fell on me, and I felt completely powerless. I tried to get out, but I couldn’t.”

P.S. You can move your fingers from right to left in front of your eyes, while imagining a traumatic situation.

What is EMDR Therapy (EMDR)?

We all sometimes feel “not okay”, while being in satisfactory physical condition. Some are even less fortunate: loneliness, fear, apathy or depression have long been woven into their usual way of life...

But even from school we know that the source of most such troubles is in the psyche (soul) and its material substrate - the brain. And that to heal the soul and brain, humanity, in addition to religion and various spiritual practices, has created a whole branch of scientific knowledge - psychotherapy.

More recently, one very good psychotherapeutic method has come to light: EMDR therapy, or EMDR. Let's try to find out what it is.

EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or in Russian – EMDR – Desensitization and Reprocessing (trauma) by Eye Movements

History of EMDR

The creator of EMDR therapy, psychologist Francine Shapiro, discovered in 1987 (through her personal example) that rhythmic eye movements + focusing on anxiety reduce its intensity(desensitization effect).

Initially it was assumed that the scope of this phenomenon would not be wide. Maybe to help some clients experiencing acute stress calm down a little (instead of taking pills).

If it were not for one curious detail: some “calmed down” in this way began to note not a fleeting improvement, but stable remission(read – recovery). Previously disturbing thoughts, images, memories and bodily sensations not only lost their negative character, but also quite quickly turned into a neutrally colored experience.

Such results seemed exaggerated, to say the least. After all, it is well known that long-term psychotherapy, sometimes stretched over years, is required to process psychological trauma. (I can confirm this as a practicing psychologist and experienced Gestalt therapist).

But Francine Shapiro's first clinical study of the eye movement effect showed a significant reduction in trauma symptoms in a group of sexual assault survivors and Vietnam War veterans. Similar results were obtained in numerous subsequent studies.

How does EMDR therapy work?

Naturally, everyone was interested in how simple eye movements allow a person to recover amazingly quickly from the effects of stress and psychological trauma? And what prevented this from being achieved in other areas of psychotherapy?

As you know, almost any information perceived by a person first “settles” in the brain and then undergoes a kind of “digestion.” This is based on a very complex physiological mechanism for the formation of nerve connections between brain cells - neurons.

When a person experiences a certain traumatic event, distress, information about this is also stored in the brain, processed and turned into life experience.

Example. Something bad happened to us - let's say, a humiliating situation arose at work. We are worried about it: we think about what happened, we talk about it, we dream about it. Over time, anxiety decreases, and we gain experience: we begin to better understand what happened, learn new things about ourselves and others, and also gain the ability to more effectively cope with similar situations in the future.

But what a shame! The mentioned processing of negativity may not happen. The most common reasons for this:

• a traumatic event occurs in childhood, when the brain does not have sufficient resources for successful processing;
• the traumatic event is of a recurring nature;
• the traumatic event is too painful for the body.

And the brain, for the sake of maintaining mental health, can “go to extreme measures”: push negative information far away, refusing to process it.

Yes, it allows you to survive in times of distress. But a side effect is also present in the form of constant excitation of certain parts of the brain (see figure). This leads to nightmares, painful memories or intrusive thoughts - standard symptoms of PTSD. I am silent about how a person feels in situations that have at least some resemblance to a situation of trauma!

Any psychotherapy is aimed at helping a person:

a) “get” the existing negative from the unconscious;
b) recycle it.

But the brain “hid” all this not for its own entertainment. Therefore, the client often has to deal with the so-called “resistance”: the reluctance of the brain to stir up unpleasant experiences.

In this regard, traditional areas of psychotherapy: psychoanalysis, Gestalt therapy, etc. resemble treatment at the dentist without anesthesia: recovery is possible, but the patient will have to “suffer” a lot. Taking medications (without psychological treatment) is similar to anesthesia, but without the treatment itself.

In EMDR therapy these disadvantages are minimized. EMDR provides sufficient desensitization(decreased sensitivity), as a result of which the brain ceases to be “afraid” of re-starting the innate mechanism recycling stressful, traumatic information.

And then the trauma-related information with each series of eye movements begins in an expedited manner move along neurophysiological pathways until its painless awareness and “dissolution” is achieved - integration with already existing positive information. As a result, the memory of the events remains, but the mental health disorder is neutralized.

Benefits of EMDR Therapy

The main advantages of EMDR include the short-term achievement of psychotherapy results and their stability. Please take a look at some of the results of recent clinical studies:

Perhaps you will find a few more facts interesting:

• The National Council of Mental Health (Israel) recommends EMDR (and 2 other methods) for treating victims of terrorism (2002);
• The American Psychiatric Association recommends EMDR as an effective treatment for psychological trauma (2004);
• The US Department of Defense and the US Department of Veterans Affairs have classified EMDR as the highest category for the treatment of severe trauma (2004);
• Among all psychotherapeutic methods, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (UK) recognized only CBT and EMDR as empirically proven for the treatment of adults suffering from PTSD (2005).

Indications for EMDR

Currently, EMDR therapy is successfully used in working with various psychological problems:

• lack of self-confidence, increased anxiety, depression, phobias and panic attacks, sexual disorders, eating disorders;
• experiencing acute grief associated with the loss or illness of a loved one, separation;
• dissociative disorders;
• fears in children;
• PTSD in victims of attacks, disasters and fires;
• and much more.

Conclusion

I don’t know whether to be happy or sad about this, but EMDR therapy is not suitable for everyone who applies. With every third client I work only in line with the good old gestalt.

However, when EMDR is used, I continue to be amazed (as I was back in 2008 when I first experienced it myself).

No, nothing supernatural is happening, everything is “as usual.” The client goes through the same natural phases of healing as, say, in Gestalt therapy. It is surprising to observe the change of these phases during one session, and not several months.

What will you choose: psychotherapy lasting 10-20 sessions or therapy lasting 10-20 months? Probably the first one. Especially if they prove to you that the likelihood of achieving your goals is very high.

This may be why, despite the abundance of different psychotherapeutic schools, EMDR therapy still managed to take its rightful place in the world of psychology.

Description of the EMDR method

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Trauma Reprocessing) is a unique new psychotherapy technique that is extremely effective in treating emotional trauma. Psychotherapists all over the world today, in addition to classical methods, use it in working with those who have experienced emotional trauma, since with the help of EMDR it is possible to solve psychological problems much faster than with traditional forms of psychotherapy.

Opening method:

The origins of the EMDR technique stem from the chance observation of the calming effects of spontaneously repeated eye movements on unpleasant thoughts.

EMDR was created by psychotherapist Francine Shapiro in 1987. One day, while walking through the park, she noticed that the thoughts that were bothering her suddenly disappeared. Francine also noted that if these thoughts were brought up again in the mind, they no longer had such a negative effect and did not seem as real as before. She noted that when disturbing thoughts arose, her eyes spontaneously began to move quickly from side to side and up and down diagonally. Then the disturbing thoughts disappeared, and when she deliberately tried to remember them, the negative charge inherent in these thoughts was greatly reduced.

Noticing this, Francine began to make deliberate movements with her eyes, concentrating on various unpleasant thoughts and memories. these thoughts also disappeared and lost their negative emotional connotation.

Shapiro asked her friends, colleagues and participants in psychological seminars to do the same exercise. The results were striking: anxiety levels decreased and people were able to more calmly and realistically perceive what was bothering them.

This is how this new technique of psychotherapy was discovered by chance. In less than 20 years, Shapiro and her colleagues have specialized in the field of EMDR over 25,000 psychotherapists from various countries, which has made the method one of the fastest growing psychotechnologies around the world.

Now Francine Shapiro works at the Institute for Brain Research in Palo Alto (USA). In 2002, she was awarded the Sigmund Freud Prize, the world's most important award in the field of psychotherapy.

How does EMDR work?

Each of us has an innate physiological mechanism for processing information that keeps our mental health at an optimal level. Our natural internal information processing system is organized in such a way that it allows it to restore mental health in the same way that the body naturally recovers from injury. So, for example, if you cut your hand, the body’s forces will be directed to ensure that the wound heals. If something prevents this healing - some external object or repeated trauma - the wound begins to fester and causes pain. If the obstacle is removed, the healing will be completed.

The balance of our natural information processing system at the neurophysiological level can be disrupted during times of trauma or stress that occur in our lives. Thus, the natural tendency of the brain's information processing system to ensure a state of mental health is blocked. As a result, various psychological problems arise, since psychological problems are the result of negative traumatic information accumulated in the nervous system. The key to psychological change is the ability to perform the necessary processing of information.

EMDR- This is a method of accelerated processing of information. The technique is based on the natural process of tracking eye movements, which activate the internal mechanism for processing traumatic memories in the nervous system. Certain eye movements lead to an involuntary connection to the innate physiological mechanism for processing traumatic information, which creates a psychotherapeutic effect. As traumatic information is transformed, there is a concomitant change in a person’s thinking, behavior, emotions, sensations, and visual images. Metaphorically speaking, we can think of the processing mechanism as a process of sort of “digesting” or “metabolizing” information so that it can be used for healing and improving a person’s quality of life.

With the help of EMDR techniques, traumatic information is made available, processed and adaptively resolved. Our negative emotions are processed until they gradually weaken, and a kind of learning occurs that helps us integrate these emotions and use them in the future.

Reprocessing can occur using not only eye movements, but also other external stimuli, such as tapping on the client's palm, flashes of light, or auditory stimuli.

After just one EMDR session, a person can remember the traumatic event in a more neutral way, without intense emotions. People begin to perceive what happened more realistically and constructively and have a more positive attitude towards themselves: “I did everything I could”, “What happened in the past. Now I’m safe,” “I managed to save my life and that’s the main thing.” In addition to these positive changes in thoughts and beliefs, intrusive images of the traumatic event usually cease.

Applications of EMDR

EMDR successfully helps with self-doubt, increased anxiety, depression, phobias, panic attacks, sexual disorders, addictions, eating disorders - anorexia, bulimia and compulsive overeating.

EMDR helps to normalize the condition of victims of attacks, disasters and fires.

Reduces the experience of excessive grief associated with the loss of a loved one or the death of other people.

EMDR therapy may target early negative childhood memories, later traumatic events, or current painful situations.

EMDR promotes emotional balance, the formation of adequate self-esteem, self-esteem and self-confidence.

EMDR is a quick and painless method of psychological assistance, thanks to which you can simply and reliably get rid of fears, anxiety, the consequences of injuries and a negative attitude towards life. Efficiency EMDR scientifically proven: through clinical studies and studies on MRI(Magnetic resonance imaging).

The basis of the method EMDR based on the idea of ​​bilateral stimulation:

• Movements of the eyeballs at a certain pace and according to a certain pattern stimulate the alternate work of different hemispheres of the brain.
• Rapid eye movements cause one or the other hemisphere to “turn on.”
• This alternating work has a positive effect on the emotional state, eliminating and reducing the negative impact of traumatic events, fears and worries.

Reduction EMDR stands for "Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing". Title in Russian EMDR- method is translated as "eye movement desensitization and reprocessing", or briefly - "EMDR".

What is EMDR or EMDR?

Like many other remarkable scientific discoveries, EMDR was discovered by accident. Clinical psychologist Francine Shapiro (USA) had a hard time experiencing the consequences of chemotherapy: not only her body suffered, but also her soul. The American was very nervous, worried and, of course, afraid. However, Frances noticed that her nervousness decreased significantly and her fear subsided if she moved her eyeballs in a certain order. The psychologist became interested in this phenomenon and began to carefully study it.

In the course of scientific research, scientists explained the phenomenon of the positive psychological impact of special eye movements using the model of adaptive information processing.

What model is this?

Let's say you carelessly touch a hot frying pan. It's painful and unpleasant. The memory of this event should do you good: you will become more careful, more prudent, more careful. Normally, this is adaptive, correct, processing of information. Stress, malaise and other factors reduce our adaptability, and then information is absorbed in a non-adaptive way. For example, we begin to be afraid of all frying pans, instead of adjusting our behavior based on experience.

Memory is a collection of neural connections. It is believed that the memory of a traumatic event can be “encapsulated”: neurons form a capsule, and outside this capsule they do not interact. If the memory has been encapsulated, the slightest reminder of the traumatic event is enough to trigger a powerful, often destructive emotional reaction. This reminder is called a “trigger,” a trigger that takes us back to the original experience of pain, fear and disgust.

Let's give another example. It was raining, it was slippery, the man was in a hurry, as a result he slipped and fell, breaking his leg. The fracture has long since healed successfully, but as soon as it starts to rain, a wave of emotions hits the person: fear, severe pain, despair and a feeling of helplessness. Perhaps, due to non-adaptive processing of information, a neural memory capsule of the fracture was formed, and the rain became a “trigger” that triggered a strong emotional reaction.

Specially organized eye movements provide safe bilateral stimulation of the brain hemispheres, due to which the neural memory capsule, which contains information about a tragic event or difficult experience, is destroyed. For simplicity, a neural memory capsule can be compared to a muscle spasm. EMDR helps to break down this neural capsule, just as a good professional massage helps to relax a muscle that is contracted by spasm. EMDR is a kind of healing “massage for the soul” that removes pain and discomfort.

Who is EMDR suitable for?

EMDR Great for helping those who have experienced trauma or a traumatic event or have encountered an unexpected painful experience. When an injury has left a deep, non-healing wound - EMDR helps to heal her and start living again. If the traumatic event was not so serious and left only a scratch that is slightly sore - EMDR will help it heal faster, remove negative sensations and pain. EMDR helps everyone: both those who survived a terrorist attack and those who were in a car accident.

EMDR copes well with:

• Fears
• Phobias
• Obsessive states
• Anxiety

Whatever you're afraid of, EMDR will help overcome this fear:

• Fear of heights
• Fear of dogs
• Fear of driving
• Fear of flying on an airplane
• and many other fears

If you have a panic attack on public transport, if you experience fear of authority (fear of civil servants, bureaucrats, police officers) or are terribly afraid to talk to your boss about work problems, EMDR- this is the right choice.

What will you get from EMDR (EMDR)?

As a result of the session EMDR the sad, scary or traumatic event will no longer be so. The memory of the problematic situation or experience itself will not disappear, but its painfulness will significantly decrease and disappear. You will no longer experience fear, anxiety, pain, sadness when you think about what happened, when you encounter something that previously caused strong negative feelings.

Second effect EMDR– this is an increase in independence, freedom to choose. Thanks to EMDR, instead of reacting to a trigger, that is, a painful situation, in the way you are used to, for example, with tears or fear, you will be able to choose your reaction and your behavior. In situations that remind you of the trauma, you will feel stronger, more independent, because you will be able to easily control your behavior and act as you want, and not as the trauma “demands” of you.

In addition, you will receive a unique self-regulation tool. By using EMDR you will learn on your own, without the help of a psychologist, to put yourself in a resourceful state, to easily cope with the destructive influence of stress, sudden panic and a feeling of powerlessness. After the session EMDR you can always and everywhere quickly rely on your strengths, your assets and resources, and instantly feel a surge of strength, energy, calmness and enthusiasm.

EMDR Safety

EMDR is not hypnosis or unauthorized influence on the psyche. All changes occur under the strict control of the client; it is the client who carries out all the main work on himself. Psychologist, specialist EMDR, is only your assistant on this path, an application expert EMDR and plays a supporting role. You can stop the session at any time EMDR, if you consider it necessary.

Method EMDR has been used for thirty years. Its effectiveness is confirmed by controlled clinical studies and results MRI. Along with cognitive behavioral therapy, in the USA the EMDR method is considered the most effective in working with post-traumatic syndrome.

Application procedure EMDR standardized, refined and agreed upon by leading professionals in the field of psychological counseling. This provides additional security and guarantees results - EMDR is applied according to a protocol, that is, a certain scheme that all psychologists are required to follow.

How does an EMDR (EMDR) session work?

At the beginning of the session EMDR a relaxation exercise is performed and a comfortable state is established, so that you can quickly return to it at any time. Then EMDR therapist talks with the client about the problematic situation, helping to remember when similar negative feelings arose previously.

The earliest traumatic situation is found and the main work begins. Several series and sets are done, during each the client moves his eyes at a certain pace and according to a certain pattern. Between sets EMDR- a specialist helps you and monitors your condition using a therapeutic conversation. As a result, the neural memory capsule begins to dissolve, the tightness goes away, the severity of the reaction fades, and the attitude towards the problem situation changes.

At the end of the session, you learn to independently return to a comfortable, resourceful state. A comfortable state is a state of peace and balance, relaxation and harmony. All its power can be used for your benefit in your new life, without unnecessarily difficult experiences and uncontrollable emotional reactions.

Benefits of EMDR

If you are not ready to share the details of your problem, EMDR will still be effective for you. As a result EMDR-sessions the memory itself is not erased; EMDR focuses not on content, but on form. In other words, EMDR works not with what you remember, but with how you remember. Thereby, EMDR and allows you to work through a negative experience without talking about it.

EMDR not only destroys the neural capsule, helping you reduce the severity of negative experiences and get rid of fears. Thanks to EMDR inner work begins, EMDR stimulates a return to adaptive information processing and starts the process of its normalization.

Unfortunately, difficult experiences, difficult situations, fears and stress negatively affect our perception of ourselves, our self-esteem. We blame ourselves for what happened, scold ourselves, and gradually begin to feel worse about ourselves. EMDR helps restore self-esteem, strengthen self-esteem and eliminate negative beliefs about your abilities and character.

Another plus EMDR- this is short-termism. Significant results can be achieved extremely quickly: two to five sessions are enough. And sometimes alone.