Over the past quarter-century, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has become proven as an effective trauma therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). As such, its use in treating gun violence survivors both in the aftermath of tragedy and to help prevent being re-triggered by subsequent events has proven to be a valuable tool.

What is EMDR?

Cleveland Clinic explains EMDR as “…a mental health treatment technique. This method involves moving your eyes a specific way while you process traumatic memories. EMDR’s goal is to help you heal from trauma or other distressing life experiences… Dozens of clinical trials since EMDR’s development show this technique is effective and can help a person faster than many other methods.”

How does it work?

According to Cleveland Clinic, “EMDR therapy doesn’t require talking in detail about a distressing issue. EMDR instead focuses on changing the emotions, thoughts or behaviors that result from a distressing experience (trauma). This allows your brain to resume a natural healing process.”

The Clinic report continues, “During normal events, your brain stores memories smoothly…During disturbing or upsetting events…your brain [often] stores trauma memories in a way that doesn’t allow for healthy healing. Trauma is like a wound that your brain hasn’t been allowed to heal…your brain didn’t receive the message that the danger is over…Combined with eye movements and guided instructions, accessing those memories helps you reprocess what you remember from the negative event…That reprocessing helps ‘repair’ the mental injury from that memory.”

How is it administered?

According to the National Institutes of Health, EMDR “is a specific treatment modality that utilizes bilateral stimulation to help individuals who have experienced trauma. This stimulation can occur in a variety of forms, including left-right eye movements, tapping on the knees, headphones, or handheld buzzers, known as tappers. This type of psychotherapy allows the individuals to redefine their self-assessment and responses to a given traumatic event in eight defined steps. While EMDR is [a] relatively new type of psychotherapy, existing literature has demonstrated positive results using this form of therapy when treating patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by utilizing eye movements to detract from negative conceptualizations as a response to a specific trigger, while reaffirming positive self-assessments.”

Is specialized training required?

Yes. Just as not all first responders have the same training or capabilities, not all therapists understand or can administer EMDR appropriately. Fortunately, convenient and cost-effective training resources are ever-growing. One primary option is EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs (EMDRHAP).

Notes the EMDRHAP website: “Trauma Recovery/HAP works to increase the capacity for effective treatment of psychological trauma in under-served communities anywhere in the world.  We train clinicians in low-cost, on-site Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) training workshops, other specialty training and an expanding online training curriculum. Our training programs are the only EMDR training by a non-profit based entirely on the EMDR manual and research of Dr. Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., originator and developer of EMDR therapy.”

Where do people interested in EMDR practitioner, training, or continuing education go to find out more?

The EMDR International Association provides a variety of information and insights, detailed on their website: “EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)™ is a non-profit 501(C)6 membership and credentialing association that sets the standards and requirements for EMDR Training and continuing education in EMDR.”

The website also identifies aligned resources: “EMDR Institute is a for-profit training organization, one of EMDRIA’s Approved Training Providers, and offers several EMDRIA Approved Credit Programs (continuing education in EMDR). Trauma Recovery/EMDR HAP  [also an Emdria-approved training provider], is a non-profit 501(C)3 organization. The businesses of these three organizations are entirely separate and not affiliated.”

Those wanting to access nearby approved EMDR therapists can start with https://www.emdria.org/find-an-emdr-therapist/. A Google search will bring up more. The key is to investigate to ensure proper EMDR training and credentialing.