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EMDR Therapy for Trauma-Related Disorders

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Evidence Based Treatments for Trauma-Related Psychological Disorders

Abstract

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a comprehensive and integrative approach to psychotherapy that works with the neurophysiology of memory to reprocess disturbing life experiences that continue to have a negative impact on self and psyche. Using standardized procedures, memories can be reprocessed, allowing clients to relate to what actually happened in the past with a present-day perspective and without distress. This approach is guided by the Adaptive Information Processing Model that posits that current life difficulties are informed by past experiences that are inadequately processed and maladaptively encoded, generating symptoms in the client’s life. This associative process, i.e., all memories are connected by one or more similar components such as images, thoughts, emotions, and sensations, informs our perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors. The three-pronged approach of considering the past, present, and future systematically addresses the client’s present-day life difficulties by targeting similar experiences in the past, addressing present triggers that may remain, and generate alternative, adaptive responses to similar situations in the future. Research confirms the primacy of adverse life experiences that contribute to a range of presenting problems to include psychological and somatic symptomatology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy, Washington, DC, USA

    Deany Laliotis

  2. Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto, USA

    Francine Shapiro

Authors
  1. Deany Laliotis
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  2. Francine Shapiro
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Correspondence to Deany Laliotis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Ulrich Schnyder

  2. Dissemination and Training Division, National Center for PTSD, Palo Alto, CA, USA

    Marylène Cloitre

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Laliotis, D., Shapiro, F. (2022). EMDR Therapy for Trauma-Related Disorders. In: Schnyder, U., Cloitre, M. (eds) Evidence Based Treatments for Trauma-Related Psychological Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97802-0_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-97802-0_11

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-97802-0

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