Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
EMDR, which in English stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an integrative psychotherapeutic approach that addresses multiple aspects of living experience and a wide range of pathologies. It harmoniously combines successful elements from various effective therapy approaches, including cognitive-behavioural, psychodynamic, interpersonal, experiential, and somatic psychotherapy. EMDR employs structured therapeutic protocols that are specifically designed to increase the efficacy of treatment. It is based on an information processing approach and follows an eight-phase procedure.
EMDR was developed by Francine Shapiro, an American psychologist and researcher at the Institute of Mental Research in Palo Alto, California. The idea emerged from a random personal experience, which she subsequently researched and developed (1987). Since then, EMDR has been repeatedly validated through hundreds of scientific studies. Francine Shapiro is the founder and Honorary President of Humanitarian Assistance Programs -EMDR -HAP), a non-profit organization that provides assistance to victims of natural disasters and training to specialists around the world. Francine Shapiro is the author of over 60 scientific publications, articles and books related to EMDR, and has been honoured by the California Psychological Association (CPA) with the Distinguished Scientific Achievement in Psychology Award.
From the website of EMDR HELLAS