Eye movement desensitization useful against anxiety, trauma

The Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) procedure, developed by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., was introduced as a new rapid treatment for anxiety and related traumata. Dr. Shapiro serendipitously discovered that lateral eye movements (saccades) produced a decrease in distress associated with dysfunctional thoughts. The basic protocol for integrating EMDR into clinical work involves the client performing sets of saccades (usually when tracking the therapist's finger) while visualizing a disturbing image, thinking a disconcerning thought or focusing on an unpleasant affect. The result is - often a rapid working through of even strong negative feelings, a disappearance of the upsetting images and a facilitation of cognitive restructuring of dysfunctional thoughts.

Magazine

English

Sandra "Sam" Foster
Jennifer Lendl
David Wilson

Foster, S., Lendl, J., & Wilson, D. (1992, July). Eye movement desensitization useful against anxiety, trauma. The California Psychologist, 20