What if, knowing the tools, everyone can start a natural self-healing mechanism? Living through stressful and traumatic situations, it is not always easy to stabilize one’s condition. But psychological self-help is quite possible with a specific set of exercises according to a method with scientifically proven effectiveness. It is about a complex method of psychotherapy: EMDR.
It was founded by psychologist Francine Shapiro in 1987. According to legend, experiencing a complex emotional state, she left the oncology clinic to walk in the park. Watching the birds land on the lake and take off repeatedly, the woman noticed that her mood had stabilized. Then she became interested in why this happened and started her scientific research.
So, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) in translation means desensitization and reprocessing (i.e., processing trauma) with eye movement.
When is it used?
Today, this innovative complex therapy has helped more than a million people who have faced a traumatic experience, have phobias or other anxiety disorders, have become victims or witnesses of crimes, violence, sexual assault, accidents, or the loss of a loved one.
The techniques provided by EMDR are universal. They can be applied in different circumstances:
● remove a solid negative emotion;
● change the assessment of the situation;
● transfer a resource from one context to another;
● get rid of fears;
● remove phobias and obsessions, etc.
Hundreds of scientific studies have proved the effectiveness of EMDR therapy. Today, this method is recommended by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the World Health Organization, the US Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence of Great Britain, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the American Psychiatric Association, etc.
How does EMDR work?
A person concentrates on his own traumatic experience. Simultaneously she thinks about what is happening “here and now.” With the help of bilateral stimulation, alternately activated the left and right hemispheres of the brain.
Thus, memories are integrated into narrative memory. That is, a person already perceives his entire negative background as an after-the-fact: what happened and became part of the history of his life and no longer causes feelings. And this leads to the “erasure” of PTSD symptoms.
Any serious events for our psyche do not pass without a trace. The manifests itself fragmentarily through memories and at the level of the unconscious. Do you remember situations when only one image, sound, or smell reminds you of a particular event, part of your life, or someone who has not been around for a long time?
Your memories can be in “sleep mode.” Sounds, smells, and images can become peculiar triggers. Therefore, the goal of EMDR is to process negative experiences and to “turn off” negative memories and emotions that accompany them and are stored in the psyche. It is possible thanks to the involvement of scientifically based protocols, with which only certified specialists work.
Such specialists of the NGO “Smart Osvita” and the MF “Renaissance” were involved in their project: the training program “Development of psychological resilience of teachers and schoolchildren resettled from war-affected areas.” Teachers need stability and endurance first of all. It is necessary to normalize children’s psycho-emotional state and be a worthy example for them.
Read about the course of the training program and reviews of participants who have already participated in our article. And from January 2023, everyone who wants to will again has the opportunity to join the training, get certificates, and become more resilient.
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