Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): A new kind of dreamwork?

EMDR’s apparent similarity to dreaming and to therapeutic dreamwork is suggested as a possible key to understanding its underlying mechanism.

Article Abstract

“Describes a psychotherapy procedure called EMDR. EMDR features focusing on a traumatic memory while moving the eyes rapidly from side to side. This appears to lead to rapid integration of the memory, and elimination of associated symptomatology. EMDR’s apparent similarity to dreaming and to therapeutic dreamwork is suggested as a possible key to understanding its underlying mechanism. An illustrative case example of a woman in her late 40s is presented.”

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Greenwald, R. (1995). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR): A new kind of dreamwork? Dreaming, 5(1), 51-55. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0094423