EMDR is a structured, evidence-based and very effective therapy that works at facilitating the brain’s natural healing capacity through bilateral stimulations – typically eye movements or shoulder tapping.
When one experiences a traumatic or stressful event, the information registered by the body and the brain is encoded – in those two systems – with the same level of intensity and overwhelmingness as that experienced at the time of the event. Hence, when the brain attempts to self-heal and process the stressful experience, it results in intense emotions and body sensations that get blocked due to the fear of the reaction experienced. The bilateral stimulations of EMDR result in information processing, that in the calm and emphatic environment of the therapy room, leads to a reduction of the distress associated with memories of the event

EMDR therapy is extensively researched and proven to treat and help recover from trauma related disorders. In fact, it has been demonstrated to be more effective than Prozac in the treament of trauma conditions. EMDR is also shown to be effective with anxiety, OCD, depression, chronic pain and addiction related disorders (https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/)

EMDR also works for complex and childhood trauma. However due to the impact of chronic trauma on the young developing brain and personality structure, and because EMDR is so effective, it needs to be modified and adapted for the gradual and gentle processing of the traumatic memories held by the different parts of the personality