A Simple, Proven Effective Solution to Heal the Emotional Traumas that Cause 95% of All Diseases
One of the most effective therapies for healing past emotional traumas, and thus freeing the body to heal physical ailments, is based on the scientifically validated link between mind-body connection. The revolutionary healing technique called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is among those therapies.
EMDR utilizes right/left eye movement, which repeatedly activates the opposite sides of the brain. Since emotional experiences are stored in the nervous system, they can be released by alternately activating the opposite sides of the brain. This works because it stimulates the neurophysiologic system—or the mind-body connection. 
EMDR is now recognized as a true breakthrough for its ability to treat most emotional problems quickly and thoroughly. “Thanks to EMDR, we are able to help people to an extent I never dreamed of…years ago,” says Atle Dyregrov, Ph.D.
A Very Fortunate Accident
Often, the best discoveries are happy accidents. Such is the case with EMDR.
Dr. Francine Shapiro, the creator of EMDR, is a licensed psychologist and a senior research fellow at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto. In 1987, Dr. Shapiro was walking in the woods when a slew of disturbing memories befell her. As she walked and remembered, she also observed her surroundings on both sides of the path, moving her eyes back and forth to do so.
And as Dr. Shapiro moved her eyes from left to right, the anxiety dissipated. She realized that relief from the anxiety was directly related to the movement of her eyes. She tested the method with her clients and soon discovered the amazing effects of EMDR.
Today, Dr. Shapiro is the Executive Director of the EMDR Institute and the recipient of the 1994 Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award presented by the California Psychological Association.
Although EMDR is gradually becoming better known, it is still dramatically less common than traditional talk therapy and prescription drug treatment. This is unfortunate, considering that EMDR has been extremely well studied and proven highly beneficial.
The Most Thoroughly Researched Method Ever Used to Treat Trauma
The first published study on EMDR was conducted in 1989, followed by numerous other successful studies. In fact, there are more controlled studies on EMDR than any other method used in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is also the most thoroughly researched method ever used in the treatment of trauma.
According to Dr. Linda Dubrow-Marshall and Dr. Steve Eichel, “The most recent 5 studies with individuals suffering from events such as rape, combat, loss of a loved one, accidents, natural disasters, etc. have found that 84-90% no longer had post-traumatic stress disorder after only 3 treatment sessions. A recent study financed by Kaiser Permanente revealed that EMDR was twice as effective in half the amount of time compared to the standard traditional care.”
EMDR has helped over a million people with the following emotional issues:
- • Trauma
- • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- • Anxiety
- • Phobias
- • Addictions
- • Panic Disorders
- • Chemical Dependency
- • Grief
- • Violence
Emotional Healing Leads to Physical Healing: The Mind-Body Connection
The benefits of EMDR go far beyond the emotional realm. That’s because all physical health and healing depends directly on emotional well-being.
Over the last 30 years, major scientific and health institutions — including Mayo Clinic and even the United States government — have confirmed that the vast majority of health problems have nonphysical causes. Our emotions— anger, grief, resentment, and hate—create cellular memories. These cellular memories are believed to be the cause of 95% of all diseases.
“Our best hope for healing incurable illness and disease in the future might very well lie in finding a way to heal destructive cellular memories,” said Dr. John Sarno, Ph.D., New York University. “If you can heal that cellular memory, then the illness or disease or chronic pain is very likely to heal.”
EMDR has proven effective in releasing the emotional traumas that are stored in cellular memories. As a result, your body is freed to heal itself of physical illness and disease.
What Respected Therapists and Scientists Say About EMDR
“EMDR is the most revolutionary, important method to emerge in psychotherapy in decades.” —Herbert Fensterheim, Ph.D., Cornell University
“EMDR is the most powerful and integrative intervention I have learned in the past five years.” —John C. Norcross, Ph.D., University of Scranton“Dr. Shapiro’s work has proven invaluable to clinicians around the world in helping people following trauma.”–Atle Dyregrov, Ph.D., Consultant to UNICEF
“EMDR is proving to be the silicon chip of psychotherapy; it allows people to process incredible amounts of material in a shockingly short time.” —Michael Elkin,Ph.D., Director, Center for Collaborative Solutions
“EMDR quickly opens new windows on reality, allowing people to see solutions within themselves that they never knew were there.”–Laura S. Brown, Ph.D., University of Washington
What to Expect from an EMDR Session
The first step in EMDR therapy is revisiting the traumatic incident or incidents that lie at the root of the current problem. The client recalls the negative thoughts, feelings, and memories associated with the incident. Then the therapist begins with the eye movement exercise.
Typically, the exercise is very simple: the therapist holds his or her fingers apart and begins to move them back and forth in front of the client’s gaze. The client visually tracks the therapist’s hand movements. Meanwhile, the client keeps focusing on the painful memory.
As exercise continues, painful feelings are replaced with greater calm, peace, and resolution within the mind-body connection.
A typical EMDR session is roughly 60-90 minutes. Sometimes people can completely resolve their trauma in a single session. It’s also common for people to take 5 or 10 sessions in order to reach full emotional resolution. Often, therapists will recommend that clients write down their feelings between sessions, to better guide the ongoing therapy.
Healing the Past Without Digging Through Years of Painful Memories
Trained practitioners say that with EMDR therapy, you don’t need to delve into the trauma of the past and spend years digging through painful memories. Instead, EMDR activates the brain’s information-processing system and allows you to make swift changes that don’t disappear over time.
The miracle of EMDR is that it allows the brain to heal its psychological problems at the same rate in which the rest of the body is healing its physical ailments. “Because EMDR allows mind-body connection to heal at the same rate,” say Drs. Dubrow Marshall and Eichel, “it is effectively making time irrelevant in therapy. Given its wide application, EMDR promises to be the therapy of the future.”
Licensed EMDR therapists can be found through the EMDR Institute’s website or through recommendations from your health care provider.
