Other Eye Movement Therapies
What Is the Difference?
Eye movements occur naturally in the course of a day or at night during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, but when they are utilized to stimulate the processing of traumatic material, unexpected responses may occur. That is why an EMDR therapist is so careful in utilizing eye movements and a clinician needs to be a licensed health care provider (or on a licensure track) to be trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing.
Those individuals who offer eye movements for personal growth but are not trained in EMDR may stimulate responses they are not prepared to handle. They will likely ask you to sign a disclaimer that you should consult a qualified and licensed medical or psychological professional if you are suffering from a medical or psychological condition of any kind. If you have a trauma history, especially if you have had any suicide attempts, you may want to consider carefully the training of anyone offering to "process" your trauma with eye movements.
Although you may be told the use of eye movements to decrease the effects of trauma is very simple, it is actually a very powerful technique. The EMDR protocol should be administered only by a trained clinician in a safe environment. This is especially true if you have a traumatic history where preparation for the EMDR experience is crucial.
An EMDR clinician will either be licensed in the state in which they are practicing, or under supervision for licensure. Therapists listed on this website also have completed the training for EMDR and have reached a level of skill, confidence and success with EMDR to be advertising their skills to the public.
Note: If you are a health professional licensed in your state (or on a licensure track), you are encouraged to get training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing through the EMDR Institute and other EMDRIA Approved Training.
The EMDR Therapist Network: We are professionals skilled in the therapeutic use of EMDR and we support your quest for health, happiness and well-being.
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