Touch, sound and light help heal inner wounds
Description
EMDR therapy, recognized by the Defense Department as an evidence-based treatment for PTSD, includes image exposure, desensitization, cognitive processing, assessment, psychoeducation and coping strategies, according to the Naval Center for Combat & Operational Stress Control.
During each session, patients are asked to recall a traumatic event and identify the positive and negative feelings associated with the event. Repetitive exercises including bilateral eye movements, with simultaneous bilateral sounds through headphones and tapping sensations in the palms, are provided to stimulate both hemispheres of the brain.
The most common task is side-to-side eye movements, allowing the patient to focus on the provider's moving finger or a light bar. The exercises are conducted for each traumatic event until the patient reassesses or recalibrates his level of emotional distress. [Excerpt]
During each session, patients are asked to recall a traumatic event and identify the positive and negative feelings associated with the event. Repetitive exercises including bilateral eye movements, with simultaneous bilateral sounds through headphones and tapping sensations in the palms, are provided to stimulate both hemispheres of the brain.
The most common task is side-to-side eye movements, allowing the patient to focus on the provider's moving finger or a light bar. The exercises are conducted for each traumatic event until the patient reassesses or recalibrates his level of emotional distress. [Excerpt]
Format
Newspaper
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Crudele, B. (2012, November 16). Touch, sound and light help heal inner wounds. Marine Corps Times. Retrieved from http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20121126/NEWS/211260306/Touch-sound-and-light-help-heal-inner-wounds 4/9/2013
Citation
“Touch, sound and light help heal inner wounds,” Francine Shapiro Library, accessed May 16, 2024, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/22047.