What is dpdg in psychology. What is the benefit of the EMDT technique for the client (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy method developed by Francine Shapiro to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by experiencing stressful events, such as violence or participation in war.

According to Shapiro's theory, when a person experiences a traumatic experience or distress, the experience may overwhelm one's coping mechanisms, causing the memory and stimuli associated with the event to be processed inappropriately and stored dysfunctionally in isolated memory areas. The goal of therapy is to process these stressful memories and allow the patient to develop more adaptive coping mechanisms.

There are two opinions regarding the mechanism of EMDR. Shapiro says that despite the different processes that make up EMDR, eye movements add effectiveness by triggering neurological and physiological changes that facilitate the processing of traumatic memories in therapy. Other researchers believe that eye movement is not a necessary component, but an epiphenomenon, a side effect, and EMDR is simply a form of desensitization

Description of the method

EMDR integrates elements of psychodynamic, exposure, cognitive, interpersonal, experiential and body-oriented psychotherapies, but contains a unique element of bilateral stimulation (eye movements, auditory and tactile stimulation) in each session.

EMDR uses a structured eight-phase approach that addresses past, present, and future aspects of traumatic experiences and dysfunctionally stored stressful memories. During the reprocessing phase, the patient focuses on disturbing memories for short sessions of 15-30 seconds. At the same time, he simultaneously focuses on alternative stimulation (for example, therapist-directed eye movements, hand taps, or bilateral auditory stimuli).

In each session of this double attention, the patient is asked about associative information that arises during the procedure. The new material usually becomes the focus of the next session. The process of maintaining dual attention to the alternative stimulus and personal associations is repeated many times during the session.

When the distress or traumatic event is isolated or a single incident (eg, a traffic accident), approximately three sessions are required to complete treatment. If a person experiences multiple traumatic events leading to health problems - such as physical, sexual or emotional abuse, parental neglect, serious illness, accident, serious injury or impairment leading to chronic impairment of health and well-being, and war-related trauma , treatment can be lengthy and complex, multiple injuries may require more sessions to complete healing and lasting results

Performance ratings[

Recent research evaluates EMDR as an effective treatment for PTSD. The International Society for the Study of Stress's practice guidelines categorize EMDR as an effective treatment for PTSD in adults. Several international guidelines include EMDR as a recommended treatment after physical injury

Several studies using meta-analysis have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments for PTSD. One of them rated EMDR as equal in effectiveness to exposure therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Two other independent meta-analyses show that traditional exposure therapy and EMDR have similar effects immediately after treatment and at follow-up assessment. A 2007 meta-analysis of 38 randomized controlled trials of PTSD treatment recommended cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or EMDR as first-line treatment for PTSD.

EMDR is a quick and painless method of psychological assistance, thanks to which you can simply and reliably get rid of fears, anxiety, the consequences of injuries and a negative attitude towards life. Efficiency EMDR scientifically proven: through clinical studies and studies on MRI(magnetic resonance imaging).

The basis of the method EMDR based on the idea of ​​bilateral stimulation:

• Movements of the eyeballs at a certain pace and according to a certain pattern stimulate the alternate work of different hemispheres of the brain.
• Rapid eye movements cause one or the other hemisphere to “turn on.”
• This alternating work has a positive effect on the emotional state, eliminating and reducing the negative impact of traumatic events, fears and worries.

What is EMDR or EMDR?

In the course of scientific research, scientists explained the phenomenon of the positive psychological impact of special eye movements using the model of adaptive information processing.

What model is this?

Let's say you carelessly touch a hot frying pan. It's painful and unpleasant. The memory of this event should do you good: you will become more careful, more prudent, more careful. Normally, this is adaptive, correct, processing of information. Stress, malaise and other factors reduce our adaptability, and then information is absorbed in a non-adaptive way. For example, we begin to be afraid of all frying pans, instead of adjusting our behavior based on experience.

Memory is a collection of neural connections. It is believed that the memory of a traumatic event can be “encapsulated”: neurons form a capsule, and outside this capsule they do not interact. If the memory has been encapsulated, the slightest reminder of the traumatic event is enough to trigger a powerful, often destructive emotional reaction. This reminder is called a “trigger,” a trigger that takes us back to the original experience of pain, fear and disgust.

Let's give another example. It was raining, it was slippery, the man was in a hurry, as a result he slipped and fell, breaking his leg. The fracture has long since healed successfully, but as soon as it starts to rain, a wave of emotions hits the person: fear, severe pain, despair and a feeling of helplessness. Perhaps, due to non-adaptive processing of information, a neural memory capsule of the fracture was formed, and the rain became a “trigger” that triggered a strong emotional reaction.

Specially organized eye movements provide safe bilateral stimulation of the brain hemispheres, due to which the neural memory capsule, which contains information about a tragic event or difficult experience, is destroyed. For simplicity, a neural memory capsule can be compared to a muscle spasm. EMDR helps to break down this neural capsule, just as a good professional massage helps to relax a muscle that is contracted by spasm. EMDR is a kind of healing “massage for the soul” that removes pain and discomfort.

Who is EMDR suitable for?

EMDR copes well with:

• Fears
• Phobias
• Obsessive states
• Anxiety

• Fear of heights
• Fear of dogs
• Fear of driving
• Fear of flying on an airplane
• and many other fears

What will you get from EMDR (EMDR)?

Second effect EMDR– this is an increase in independence, freedom to choose. Thanks to EMDR, instead of reacting to a trigger, that is, a painful situation, in the way you are used to, for example, with tears or fear, you will be able to choose your reaction and your behavior. In situations that remind you of the trauma, you will feel stronger, more independent, because you will be able to easily control your behavior and act as you want, and not as the trauma “demands” of you.

In addition, you will receive a unique self-regulation tool. By using EMDR you will learn on your own, without the help of a psychologist, to put yourself in a resourceful state, to easily cope with the destructive influence of stress, sudden panic and a feeling of powerlessness. After the session EMDR you can always and everywhere quickly rely on your strengths, your assets and resources, and instantly feel a surge of strength, energy, calmness and enthusiasm.

EMDR Safety

Method EMDR has been used for thirty years. Its effectiveness is confirmed by controlled clinical studies and results MRI. Along with cognitive behavioral therapy, in the USA the EMDR method is considered the most effective in working with post-traumatic syndrome.

Application procedure EMDR standardized, refined and agreed upon by leading professionals in the field of psychological counseling. This provides additional security and guarantees results - EMDR is applied according to a protocol, that is, a certain scheme that all psychologists are required to follow.

How does an EMDR (EMDR) session work?

The earliest traumatic situation is found and the main work begins. Several series and sets are done, during each the client moves his eyes at a certain pace and according to a certain pattern. Between sets EMDR- a specialist helps you and monitors your condition using a therapeutic conversation. As a result, the neural memory capsule begins to dissolve, the tightness goes away, the severity of the reaction fades, and the attitude towards the problem situation changes.

At the end of the session, you learn to independently return to a comfortable, resourceful state. A comfortable state is a state of peace and balance, relaxation and harmony. All its power can be used for your benefit in your new life, without unnecessarily difficult experiences and uncontrollable emotional reactions.

Benefits of EMDR

EMDR not only destroys the neural capsule, helping you reduce the severity of negative experiences and get rid of fears. Thanks to EMDR inner work begins EMDR stimulates a return to adaptive information processing and starts the process of its normalization.

Unfortunately, difficult experiences, difficult situations, fears and stress negatively affect our perception of ourselves, our self-esteem. We blame ourselves for what happened, scold ourselves, and gradually begin to feel worse about ourselves. EMDR helps restore self-esteem, strengthen self-esteem and eliminate negative beliefs about your abilities and character.

Another plus EMDR- this is short-termism. Significant results can be achieved extremely quickly: two to five sessions are enough. And sometimes alone.

Key words: emdr, dpdg, desensitization and processing by eye movements, method of desensitization using eye movements

deprogramming the subconscious, without dialogue with the subconscious, contact energy therapy techniques

Comments

• Description of the EMDR method

  EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Trauma Reprocessing) is a unique new psychotherapy technique that is extremely effective in treating emotional trauma. Psychotherapists all over the world today, in addition to classical methods, use it in working with those who have experienced emotional trauma, since with the help of EMDR it is possible to solve psychological problems much faster than with traditional forms of psychotherapy.

  Opening method:

  The origins of the EMDR technique stem from the chance observation of the calming effects of spontaneously repeated eye movements on unpleasant thoughts.

  EMDR was created by psychotherapist Francine Shapiro in 1987. One day, while walking through the park, she noticed that the thoughts that were bothering her suddenly disappeared. Francine also noted that if these thoughts were brought up again in the mind, they no longer had such a negative effect and did not seem as real as before. She noted that when disturbing thoughts arose, her eyes spontaneously began to move quickly from side to side and up and down diagonally. Then the disturbing thoughts disappeared, and when she deliberately tried to remember them, the negative charge inherent in these thoughts was greatly reduced.

  Noticing this, Francine began to make deliberate movements with her eyes, concentrating on various unpleasant thoughts and memories. these thoughts also disappeared and lost their negative emotional connotation.

  Shapiro asked her friends, colleagues and participants in psychological seminars to do the same exercise. The results were amazing: anxiety levels decreased and people were able to more calmly and realistically perceive what was bothering them.

  This is how this new technique of psychotherapy was discovered by chance. In less than 20 years, Shapiro and her colleagues have specialized in the field of EMDR over 25,000 psychotherapists from various countries, which has made the method one of the fastest growing psychotechnologies around the world.

  Now Francine Shapiro works at the Institute for Brain Research in Palo Alto (USA). In 2002, she was awarded the Sigmund Freud Prize, the world's most important award in the field of psychotherapy.

  How does EMDR work?

  Each of us has an innate physiological mechanism for processing information that keeps our mental health at an optimal level. Our natural internal information processing system is organized in such a way that it allows it to restore mental health in the same way that the body naturally recovers from injury. So, for example, if you cut your hand, the body’s forces will be directed to ensure that the wound heals. If something prevents this healing - some external object or repeated trauma - the wound begins to fester and causes pain. If the obstacle is removed, the healing will be completed.

  The balance of our natural information processing system at the neurophysiological level can be disrupted during times of trauma or stress that occur in our lives. Thus, the natural tendency of the brain's information processing system to ensure a state of mental health is blocked. As a result, various psychological problems arise, since psychological problems are the result of negative traumatic information accumulated in the nervous system. The key to psychological change is the ability to perform the necessary processing of information.

  EMDR- This is a method of accelerated processing of information. The technique is based on the natural process of tracking eye movements, which activate the internal mechanism for processing traumatic memories in the nervous system. Certain eye movements lead to an involuntary connection to the innate physiological mechanism for processing traumatic information, which creates a psychotherapeutic effect. As traumatic information is transformed, there is a concomitant change in a person’s thinking, behavior, emotions, sensations, and visual images. Metaphorically speaking, we can consider the mechanism of processing as a process of sort of “digesting” or “metabolizing” information so that it can be used for healing and improving the quality of a person’s life.

  With the help of EMDR techniques, traumatic information is made available, processed and adaptively resolved. Our negative emotions are processed until they gradually weaken, and a kind of learning occurs that helps us integrate these emotions and use them in the future.

  Reprocessing can occur using not only eye movements, but also other external stimuli, such as tapping on the client's palm, flashes of light, or auditory stimuli.

  After just one EMDR session, a person can remember the traumatic event in a more neutral way, without intense emotions. People begin to perceive what happened more realistically and constructively and have a more positive attitude towards themselves: “I did everything I could”, “What happened in the past. Now I’m safe,” “I managed to save my life and that’s the main thing.” In addition to these positive changes in thoughts and beliefs, intrusive images of the traumatic event usually cease.

  Applications of EMDR

  EMDR successfully helps with self-doubt, increased anxiety, depression, phobias, panic attacks, sexual disorders, addictions, eating disorders - anorexia, bulimia and compulsive overeating.

  EMDR helps to normalize the condition of victims of attacks, disasters and fires.

  Reduces the experience of excessive grief associated with the loss of a loved one or the death of other people.

  EMDR therapy may target early negative childhood memories, later traumatic events, or current painful situations.

  EMDR promotes emotional balance, the formation of adequate self-esteem, self-esteem and self-confidence.

• What is EMDR Therapy (EMDR)?

  We all sometimes feel “not okay”, while being in satisfactory physical condition. Some are even less fortunate: loneliness, fear, apathy or depression have long been woven into their usual way of life...

  But even from school we know that the source of most such troubles is in the psyche (soul) and its material substrate - the brain. And that to heal the soul and brain, humanity, in addition to religion and various spiritual practices, has created a whole branch of scientific knowledge - psychotherapy.

  More recently, one very good psychotherapeutic method has come to light: EMDR therapy, or EMDR. Let's try to find out what it is.

  EMDR – Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or in Russian – EMDR – Desensitization and Reprocessing (trauma) by Eye Movements

  History of EMDR

  The creator of EMDR therapy, psychologist Francine Shapiro, discovered in 1987 (through her personal example) that rhythmic eye movements + focusing on anxiety reduce its intensity(desensitization effect).

  Initially it was assumed that the scope of this phenomenon would not be wide. Maybe to help some clients experiencing acute stress calm down a little (instead of taking pills).

  If it were not for one curious detail: some “calmed down” in this way began to note not a fleeting improvement, but stable remission(read – recovery). Previously disturbing thoughts, images, memories and bodily sensations not only lost their negative character, but also quite quickly turned into a neutrally colored experience.

  Such results seemed exaggerated, to say the least. After all, it is well known that long-term psychotherapy, sometimes stretched over years, is required to process psychological trauma. (I can confirm this as a practicing psychologist and experienced Gestalt therapist).

  But Francine Shapiro's first clinical study of the eye movement effect showed a significant reduction in trauma symptoms in a group of sexual assault survivors and Vietnam War veterans. Similar results were obtained in numerous subsequent studies.

  How does EMDR therapy work?

  Naturally, everyone was interested in how simple eye movements allow a person to recover amazingly quickly from the effects of stress and psychological trauma? And what prevented this from being achieved in other areas of psychotherapy?

  As you know, almost any information perceived by a person first “settles” in the brain and then undergoes a kind of “digestion.” This is based on a very complex physiological mechanism for the formation of nerve connections between brain cells - neurons.

  When a person experiences a certain traumatic event, distress, information about this is also stored in the brain, processed and turned into life experience.

  Example. Something bad happened to us - let's say, a humiliating situation arose at work. We are worried about it: we think about what happened, we talk about it, we dream about it. Over time, anxiety decreases, and we gain experience: we begin to better understand what happened, learn new things about ourselves and others, and also gain the ability to more effectively cope with similar situations in the future.

  But what a shame! The mentioned processing of negativity may not happen. The most common reasons for this:
  • a traumatic event occurs in childhood, when the brain does not have sufficient resources for successful processing;
  • the traumatic event is of a recurring nature;
  • the traumatic event is too painful for the body.
  And the brain, for the sake of maintaining mental health, can “go to extreme measures”: push negative information far away, refusing to process it.

  Yes, it allows you to survive in times of distress. But a side effect is also present in the form of constant stimulation of certain parts of the brain (see figure). This leads to nightmares, painful memories or intrusive thoughts - standard symptoms of PTSD. I am silent about how a person feels in situations that have at least some resemblance to a situation of trauma!

  

  Any psychotherapy is aimed at helping a person:

  a) “get” the existing negative from the unconscious;
  b) recycle it.

  But the brain “hid” all this not for its own entertainment. Therefore, the client often has to deal with the so-called “resistance”: the reluctance of the brain to stir up unpleasant experiences.

  In this regard, traditional areas of psychotherapy: psychoanalysis, Gestalt therapy, etc. resemble treatment at the dentist without anesthesia: recovery is possible, but the patient will have to “suffer” a lot. Taking medication (without psychological treatment) is similar to anesthesia, but without the treatment itself.

  In EMDR therapy these disadvantages are minimized. EMDR provides sufficient desensitization(decreased sensitivity), as a result of which the brain ceases to be “afraid” of re-starting the innate mechanism recycling stressful, traumatic information.

  And then the trauma-related information with each series of eye movements begins in an expedited manner move along neurophysiological pathways until its painless awareness and “dissolution” is achieved - integration with already existing positive information. As a result, the memory of the events remains, but the mental health disorder is neutralized.

  Benefits of EMDR Therapy

  The main advantages of EMDR include the short-term achievement of psychotherapy results and their stability. Please take a look at some of the results of recent clinical studies:
  • EMDR allows 77% of sufferers to get rid of symptoms of PTSD (single traumatic event) in 3-6 sessions;
  • victims of repetitive trauma (military veterans) can benefit from EMDR in 12 or more sessions;
  • many patients returned to symptoms after stopping the popular antidepressant Prozac, while the condition of patients after EMDR remains stable;
  • etc.
  Perhaps you will find a few more facts interesting:
  • The National Council of Mental Health (Israel) recommends EMDR (and 2 other methods) for treating victims of terrorism (2002);
  • The American Psychiatric Association recommends EMDR as an effective treatment for psychological trauma (2004);
  • The US Department of Defense and the US Department of Veterans Affairs have classified EMDR as the highest category for the treatment of severe trauma (2004);
  • Among all psychotherapeutic methods, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (UK) recognized only CBT and EMDR as empirically proven for the treatment of adults suffering from PTSD (2005).

  Indications for EMDR

  Currently, EMDR therapy is successfully used in working with various psychological problems:
  • lack of self-confidence, increased anxiety, depression, phobias and panic attacks, sexual disorders, eating disorders;
  • experiencing acute grief associated with the loss or illness of a loved one, separation;
  • dissociative disorders;
  • fears in children;
  • PTSD in victims of attacks, disasters and fires;
  • and much more.

  Conclusion

  I don’t know whether to be happy or sad about this, but EMDR therapy is not suitable for everyone who applies. With every third client I work only in line with the good old gestalt.

  However, when EMDR is used, I continue to be amazed (as I was back in 2008 when I first experienced it myself).

  No, nothing supernatural is happening, everything is “as usual.” The client goes through the same natural phases of healing as, say, in Gestalt therapy. It is surprising to observe the change of these phases during one session, and not several months.

  What will you choose: psychotherapy lasting 10-20 sessions or therapy lasting 10-20 months? Probably the first one. Especially if they prove to you that the likelihood of achieving your goals is very high.

  This may be why, despite the abundance of different psychotherapeutic schools, EMDR therapy still managed to take its rightful place in the world of psychology.

• Description of the EMDR method (EMDR)

  You can conduct the session yourself.

  “The EMDR technique is based on a chance observation that was made in May 1987. One day, while walking in the park, I noticed that some thoughts that were bothering me suddenly disappeared. I also noticed that if I brought up these thoughts again in my mind, they no longer have such a negative effect and do not seem as real as before.

  Previous experience has taught me that all disturbing thoughts tend to form a kind of vicious circle - once they appear, they tend to return again and again until you make a conscious effort to stop them or change their character. What caught my attention that day, however, was that the thoughts that had been troubling me disappeared and changed their character without any conscious effort on my part.

  Amazed by this, I began to pay close attention to everything that was happening. I noticed that when disturbing thoughts arose, my eyes spontaneously began to quickly move from side to side and up and down diagonally.

  Then the thoughts that were bothering me disappeared, and when I deliberately tried to remember them, the negative charge inherent in these thoughts was significantly reduced.

  Noticing this, I began to make deliberate movements with my eyes, concentrating my attention on various unpleasant thoughts and memories. I noticed that all these thoughts also disappeared and lost their negative emotional connotation.

  Realizing all the potential benefits of this effect, I became very excited.

  A few days later, I tried to apply my discovery to other people: friends, colleagues and participants in psychological seminars that I was attending at the time. They had a large number of a wide variety of non-pathological complaints, just like, probably, all people.

  When I asked, “What would you like to work on?”, people usually talked about memories, ideas, or situations that were currently bothering them. Moreover, their complaints ranged widely from various humiliations in early childhood to the grievances currently experienced.

  Then I showed them how to quickly move their eyes from side to side, asking them to repeat these movements after me, focusing on their problems.

  First of all, I discovered that most people do not have voluntary control of the muscles responsible for eye movements and cannot continue these movements indefinitely.

  Intending to continue my research, I asked my friends to follow the movements of my finger with their eyes, moving my hand from side to side so that the eyes moved at approximately the same speed and in the same direction as during my first experiment in the park.

  This method turned out to be much more effective, but I noticed that although after this procedure people began to feel clearly better, they continued to remain fixated on the problems that were bothering them. To overcome this fixation, I tried different types of eye movements (faster, slower, in different directions), suggesting that I focus on different things - for example, different aspects of my memories or what feelings are associated with those memories.

  I then began to study what forms of work would produce the best results, developing standard ways of starting and ending eye movement sessions that would produce the greatest positive effect.

  After about six months, I developed a standard procedure that clearly resulted in fewer complaints. Because my focus from the very beginning was on the problem of reducing anxiety (as it was in my own experience), and my theoretical orientation at that time was primarily associated with a behaviorist approach, I called the procedure I discovered Eye Movement Desensitization (EMD).

  Fragment of an EMDR session

  The client's name is Eric, he is 39 years old and a programmer.

  Psychotherapist: Let's start by imagining the face of the person you consider an incompetent employee. Look at that face and feel how incompetent he is. How would you rate his incompetence, from 0 to 10 points?

  Eric: Seven points.

  [The client imagines the employee's face and gives an initial rating of seven points of incompetence on the Subjective Units of Concern Scale.]

  Psychotherapist: Focus on this feeling and follow my finger with your eyes (the client, under the guidance of the therapist, makes a series of eye movements). Fine. Now don't think about it; inhale and exhale. How are you feeling now?

  Eric: I don't know. I think I'm feeling a little better. Before I came here, I was working through some things, and finally today I realized on an intellectual level... This is work... you know, I don't fit into the schedule, other people are unhappy, but... it always happens... I mean, in the computer business, someone is always late. So I started making some connections with all of this...

  [This is the first channel of information opened during an EMDR session. The therapist then decides to return to the original goal.]

  Psychotherapist: Fine. If you remember the employee's face again, how would you now determine the degree of his incompetence, from 0 to 10 points?

  Eric: I think five points.

  Psychotherapist: Hold this image (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Fine. Now forget about it, take a breath and exhale. What happens now?

  [As we will see, the new channel opened precisely because the client returned to the original goal. The second channel indicates a chain of associative material connected by the idea of ​​“personal acceptance.”]

  Eric: I realized that my frustration was partly due to a difficult relationship with my boss, who was unable to appreciate the abilities of other people. I think I feel all of this a little better than others. But I think everyone would need to understand this. And until my boss recognizes my abilities, I will return again and again to the need to feel competent, as well as the need for other people to recognize my competence.

  Psychotherapist: Think about all this (does the next series of eye movements). Fine. Now forget about all this, take a breath and exhale. How would you rate how you feel now?

  Eric: Probably four or three points. Gradually, the realization comes to me that I don’t really need acceptance from other people. After all, I am already accepted by those who matter to me. But my boss is also one of these significant people, and I just don’t feel acceptance from him. Although this is, in essence, his problem, not mine (laughs).

  [At this point, the traditional therapist may be tempted to engage in a discussion with the client about how to help him change his relationship system. However, in the case of EMDR this is contraindicated.

  The therapist needs to ask the client to hold in his mind everything he just said, and then give him another series of eye movements to stimulate further processing. After this, the client will offer a new version of what is happening to him. As we will see, the client will reach a new plateau and the information will take on a more adaptive form.]

  Psychotherapist: Fine. Think about it (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Fine. Now forget about it, take a breath and exhale. What's happening to you?

  Eric: I think I've had enough of accepting it. I don't need anymore. I understand that the boss needs me now, so I won’t be left without work. I'm fine with that.

  Psychotherapist: Fine. Think about it (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Now forget about everything and breathe deeply. How are you feeling now?

  Eric: It seems to me... that in a couple of months, the pressure of this whole situation of working to complete the project will ease, and he will clearly see...

  Psychotherapist: Fine. Keep all this in your mind (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Fine. Now forget about everything, take a breath and exhale. What's happening to you?

  Eric: About the same.

  [When the client does not notice any changes and feels relatively comfortable, the therapist may conclude that the client has completely “cleared” this second channel and that it needs to be brought back to the original goal.]

  Psychotherapist: Fine. What happens if you fall back into the image of a person you perceive as incompetent? How are you feeling now?

  Eric: He worries me. I know that in the future I may experience frustration with this face again, but I think that it will not be as strong.

  [Note that although the client's anxiety level has decreased, it has not completely disappeared. During the next series of eye movements, the processing process stimulated information associatively hidden in the third channel. Here we find the influence of traumatic material associated with the Vietnam War: if anyone in Vietnam turned out to be incompetent, then this meant that such people were destined to die.]

  Psychotherapist: Now imagine his face again and feel the incompetence (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Fine. Now forget about all this, take a breath and exhale. How do you feel?

  Eric: I realized that in this case the stakes, in general, are not so high. I understand that I’m right, and he’s simply incompetent in this area, he’s trying to mind his own business and ruining everything... (laughs). I think all this can be looked at from the other side...

  Psychotherapist: Indeed, you are right. Hold this in consciousness (carries out another series of eye movements). Fine. Now forget about all this, take a breath and exhale. How are you feeling now?

  Eric: Oh, it's so nice to know... it's so nice to think that the stakes aren't really that high and that all these relationships are like several computers connected... and that as a result of all this, no one will die because you You can't look at what's happening from the other side...

  Psychotherapist: Go back to this picture. How do you feel?

  Eric: The comedy of it all!

  [Since the two previous types of reaction were the same and the client felt relatively comfortable, the third channel could be considered cleared. After this, the original target was called again. Now it becomes obvious that the client's reaction to an incompetent employee has become completely different. Only after being freed from the psychological pressure of the traumatic experience associated with Vietnam did the client begin to respond to what was happening more calmly.]

  Psychotherapist: Yes.

  Eric: I realized that this employee is generally a great guy. Very capable. And when I look at the mistakes he makes, they seem funny and funny to me - we all made such mistakes in the beginning when trying to do similar work. You know how it is when a problem arises and you solve a small part of it. The problem may be huge, but you boldly dig: “Is the problem huge? It’s okay, I can do it!”, because in fact you only saw a piece of it (laughs). And because you are so excited to find this piece, you decide that this is the whole problem... Other people can see all this just as clearly, and often manage to deal with similar things better. It's all quite funny... You know: “What do you want from him at his level?” It’s just that others tolerate it more easily, but everyone understands it, and when a person believes that he can solve every problem in the world, this is a kind of cunning and self-deception.

  Psychotherapist: Fine. Think about it (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Now erase it all, inhale and exhale. How are you feeling now?

  Eric: About the same.

  Psychotherapist: Wonderful.

  Eric: Yes, I feel good. It turns out that it’s so nice to no longer feel annoyed, not feel angry, as I was last week. Then everything fell on me, and I felt completely powerless. I tried to get out, but I couldn’t.”

  P.S. You can move your fingers from right to left in front of your eyes, while imagining a traumatic situation.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) or EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), also better known as the Shapiro method, is a fast, unique, and most importantly reliable method of getting rid of mental trauma, stress, etc. EMDR involves getting rid of long-standing traumas, anxiety, low mood or other psychological problems by moving the eyeballs in a specific direction and under specific conditions.

Discovery of a unique technique

The method of desensitization and processing by eye movements was discovered by the American doctor of psychological sciences Francine Shapiro. Having cancer, which suddenly overtook her, she stopped experiencing the joy of life. The woman no longer felt desire or zeal for anything, and she was overcome by deep depression. One day, while walking, quite by accident (like most outstanding discoveries), the doctor noticed that moving her eyes allowed her to forget about bad thoughts, and her mood also became much better.

Having become interested in this phenomenon, Frances began to conduct experiments and work on this theory. Later, the effectiveness of the method was confirmed through clinical and psychological studies. As a result of numerous experiments, the phenomenon of the positive impact of special eye movements on the emotional and mental state has been proven through the model of the so-called “adaptive information processing”.

What is the essence of this model?

The body's adaptive processing of information becomes significantly worse under the influence of stress.

Suppose, due to carelessness, a person accidentally spilled hot tea on himself, which caused pain and discomfort. Mechanical memory works to ensure that this does not happen again in the future, therefore, the person will be more careful. This is how a mechanism called adaptive information processing works. But stress, frustration and other emotional stimuli reduce adaptability. As a result, the functioning of this mechanism becomes worse, and the person, instead of behaving more carefully, begins to be panicky about all the hot cups.

Memory, as a sum of neural connections, has the ability to “encapsulate” memories, and neurons cannot interact outside the boundaries of this shell. As a result, the mechanism of human memory will only need a hint of a painfully experienced memory, and it will flare up with a new force of emotional instability. This phenomenon is called a “trigger” - something that returns a person to the pain and unpleasant sensations that he experienced.

Special movements of the eyeballs stimulate the brain hemispheres, which helps destroy the neural memory capsule associated with difficult memories or psychological trauma. Eye movement desensitization is often compared to a massage, which relaxes the connections between neurons and the tight muscle.

In what cases is it used?

Eye movement desensitization is effective for a person who has experienced emotional instability or stress. The technique will help you forget and even reconfigure thoughts from painful ones to positive ones, regardless of whether the person survived the war or is simply in a bad mood.

The technique brings positive results in the treatment of such patients:

• rape victims;
• participants in hostilities;
• victims of natural disasters;
• patients with dissociative disorders.

It also eliminates such primitive mental problems as:

• Bad mood;
• anxiety;
• depression;
• fears.

How is EMDR treatment performed?

The foundation of the method is the concept of bilateral stimulation - the movement of the eyeballs according to a pattern that at the same pace promotes the alternate work of both hemispheres of the brain. Such alternating work has a positive effect on the emotional and mental state, forcing you to forget about traumatic events from the past, depression, fears, or even look at previously painful situations from the other, positive side, learn lessons and perceive it as life experience.