Linda K. Laffey Marriage and Family Therapist License# MFC 37134 Encino (818) 591-2989 Westlake Village (805) 375-5860 |
EMDR is a form of therapy discovered by Francine Shapiro in 1987, which has since
developed into an extraordinarily effective method for many clients for whom talk therapy by
itself was not enough. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) initially
used the pairing of a set protocol (specific questions and the client’s answers) with a series of
bi-lateral eye movements which were led and guided by the therapist. The latest evidence
has indicated that other forms of bi-lateral stimulation are equally or more effective for some
clients, including auditory and tactile methods.
Empirical and clinical evidence indicate that EMDR has been dramatically helpful in dealing
with issues involving single-incident traumas (post-traumatic stress disorder), a history of
ongoing, pervasive trauma (complex post-traumatic stress disorder), especially for adults who
were abused or neglected as children, as well as test anxiety, performance anxiety, chronic
pain, and opening up and pushing through areas where a client has felt stuck or blocked.
EMDR is not for everyone, and it is not a magical cure. It is, however, a very powerful tool
that a highly trained clinician can use to help the appropriate client achieve significant results
quickly, and it appears to be effective in 80 to 90 percent of cases. EMDR targets memories
of trauma stored in a part of the brain—the limbic system—which does not respond readily
to talk therapy. It can access processing and reasoning within the client which before seemed
non-existent. It typically reduces total length of therapy time by approximately 50 percent.
Many clients have described their experience as if they had been carrying around 1000
pounds of pain, that this helped them to drop out 800 to 900 pounds of that pain, and opened
up a whole new world to them. Each client’s experience is unique, and no two clients will
respond in exactly the same way. The EMDR therapist can work as a primary or secondary
therapist, so if the client already has a therapist who is not trained in EMDR, the two
therapists can work collaboratively with the same client.
This is a very complex subject to cover in a few paragraphs. This material is provided for
informational and educational purposes only. If you are interested in learning more about this
extraordinary treatment and how it might be beneficial for you, as a Certified EMDR
Therapist since 2004, I would be happy to discuss it with you and answer all of your
questions. Please call me at (818) 591-2989 or (805) 375-5860. You can also go to www.
emdr.com or www.emdria.org to find extensive information about EMDR.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Linda K. Laffey, Marriage and Family Therapist
Lic# MFC 37134
Linda Laffey provides counseling and EMDR Therapy to clients suffering from trauma, post-
traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety in Encino, Tarzana and Westlake Village, California
| EMDR – Taking Therapy to the Next Level |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |