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Originally Posted By SabraHello to Each of you:Thank you for coming on to the adopting.org Older Child Adoption Board. I came across this article on EMDR: [url="http://www.attach.org/pages/newsletteremdr.htm"]http://www.attach.org/pages/newsletteremdr.htm[/url]It was interesting. Hope it helps.Best to all of you for 2002!Sabra of adopting.org[url="http://www.adopting.org/ar.html"]http://www.adopting.org/ar.html[/url]
Originally Posted By Dr. Arthur Becker-WeidmanHi,I'd put some information in a previous posting further back on the Board, but I'll repeat it here. EMDR can be an effective adjunctive tool for a therapist to use. It is not a whole approach in the same way that Theraplay or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or Structural Family Therapy are complete approaches. EMDR can be a helpful technique for a therapist to use to help a client (adult or child) remember and relive with affect past traumas. There need to be specific traumatizing events to be recalled. It is not that effective unless there is a specific memory or memories. PTSD is caused by severe trauma. The intensity of the affect involved causes the memories or part of the affect to be split off and dissociated. However, the implicit memory remains even if the explict memory is dissoicated or split off. The neural pathways created by the trauma remain and are activated by similiar events, words, touches, and experiences...hence the flash backs, panic attacks, and general anxiety. By enabling a person (adult or child) to recall the dissociated memories with affect, the therpist enables the person to bring to bear his or her higher cognitive processes and integrate the trauma. Once the trauma is integrated and no longer dissociated, the person is able to come to terms with the experiences and cope with it.What is interesting is that the research on EMDR has shown that the "active component" is not the eye-movement. In fact, eye-movement, taping, moving lights, etc. are unnecessary. The active component of treatment is creating a safe place with a trusted person so that the person can reexperience the trauma. In effect, what occurs is that the safety and security of the relationship allows the person to experience more affect in that moment that the person can alone. This allows the person to effective regulate affect without becoming overwhelmed and having to dissociate. I've used this technique, at times, to help a child recall past traumas. However, I've only used it once we had a trusting relationship in place. I've seen children access memories of trauma that they did not know they had. I've experienced children get significant relief from some of the symptoms of PTSD with this technique. I can suggest two good websites to begin your own research and reach your own conclusions.1. [url="http://skepdic.com/emdr.html"]http://skepdic.com/emdr.html[/url] This is an excellent critical analysis of what is really known about emdr. Lots of good facts here.2. [url="http://www.emdr.com"]http://www.emdr.com[/url] This is the home page for the emdr institute. Best wishes for a healthy and happy new year.Dr. ArtCenter For Family Development[url="http://www.center4FamilyDevelop.com"]http://www.center4FamilyDevelop.com[/url]AWeidman@Concentric.net716-810-0790