The Turkish equivalent of EMDR is known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. With the concept of desensitization in the definition; Reducing the degree of discomfort caused by information such as emotions, thoughts, physical sensations, sounds and smells that disturb the person; With the concept of Reprocessing; It is stated that the negative beliefs and thoughts that make the person feel uncomfortable are transformed into positive beliefs and thoughts.
How did EMDR emerge?
The creator of EMDR, Dr. While taking a walk one day, Francine Shapiro was thinking about something that was bothering her. After a while, she noticed that the impact of the disturbing thoughts had diminished. As she began to think about what could be causing this, she noticed that her eyes would move back and forth spontaneously when disturbing thoughts came to her mind. Shapiro, who conducted controlled studies with eye movements on the negative thoughts and memories of himself and then on volunteer subjects, has finalized the EMDR therapy, which has proven effective on many disorders today, and has brought an effective therapy method to the world of psychotherapy.
Why use eye movements? being studied?
The main purpose of the eye movements mentioned in the definition of EMDR therapy and applied during therapy is to ensure that the brain works bidirectionally. Because what actually provides reprocessing and desensitization is the rhythmic bidirectional work of the right and left lobes of the brain. Since in the first applications of EMDR therapy, bidirectional activation of the brain was achieved through eye movements, it was also defined and expressed in this way. However, today, Emdr therapy can also be applied with eye movements, sound, vibration, or touch with the help of a stick. basic here The aim is to ensure that the bidirectional stimulation applied while the person is focusing on the negative memory, thought or other stimulus that disturbs him/her is rhythmic, left and right, and that the brain is activated in both directions.
Is EMDR suitable for my application reason? Can I do it?
Can I do Emdr therapy since clients do not have detailed information about the Emdr method when they first apply for therapy? They may be worried. The applicant is not expected to have superior abilities to receive Emdr therapy.
However, the person's reason for applying, the suitability of his problem for the Emdr method, the degree to which he can remember his memories, or a different therapy method that the therapist believes will provide a more effective solution to the person's application reason. It may affect the decision whether to apply or not.
If we talk about the disorders and situations in which EMDR therapy can be applied; It can be applied and provide effective results for disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, panic attack, panic disorder, social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, grief, phobias, addictions, body image disorder, sexual or physical abuse, performance concerns.
So what does EMDR aim for?
People are exposed to some positive or negative experiences in their daily lives. Our brain tries to process and store all the information it is exposed to as a result of these experiences in a healthy way. However, although our brain has perfect functioning, sometimes it cannot fulfill its function fully and may store the information it is exposed to in an unhealthy way. This information stored in an unhealthy way causes the person to feel negative beliefs about himself, have negative thoughts or feel uncomfortable. It may cause distressing physical symptoms.
In such cases, Emdr works first with past events, then with problematic situations in the present, and then with future goals to desensitize and reconstruct disturbing memories, beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and physical symptoms. It aims to establish the positive belief that the person needs and to reflect this belief in his behavior.
How to work with EMDR?
In EMDR therapy, the past, present and future are addressed respectively. An 8-stage protocol is applied through bidirectional stimulation (eye movement, vibration, sound, etc.).
In summary; People may have negative beliefs about themselves. These beliefs, of which they are unaware, may cause some problems in their lives. The important thing is to determine what the person's needs are and what lies at the basis of these beliefs and to make the right intervention. Thus, we can transform the negative beliefs we feel in the face of events and situations into positive beliefs. Changing our beliefs will help change our thoughts, emotions, bodies, and perhaps our entire lives.
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