Profession or specialty

EMDR practitioner

Desensitisation and reprocessing of trauma through eye movements: post-traumatic stress, traumatic shocks and unresolved grief.

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In-depth guide 2 min read 278 words

The EMDR practitioner: reprocessing and desensitising trauma through eye movements

A psychotherapist certified in the treatment of psychological trauma, the EMDR practitioner uses bilateral sensory stimulation to release entrenched traumatic memories.

1 The discovery and worldwide scientific recognition of EMDR

Developed in the late 1980s by American psychologist Francine Shapiro, EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, revolutionised treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Recommended by the World Health Organization, France's National Authority for Health and INSERM, it rests on the neurobiological hypothesis of Adaptive Information Processing.

2 A standardised protocol in eight rigorous phases

EMDR is not simply an eye-sweeping technique but a comprehensive psychotherapy structured around eight protocol phases. The early stages establish safety through clinical history-taking, preparation, creating a supportive 'safe place' and learning emotional grounding techniques. Desensitisation begins only afterwards: the practitioner asks the patient to focus on the traumatic image, negative belief and associated bodily sensation while applying alternating bilateral stimulation through horizontal eye movements, tactile tapping or alternating sounds.

3 Clinical applications: from acute trauma to phobias and unresolved grief

EMDR enables the brain to 'digest' tragic events, including assaults, road accidents, natural disasters and sudden bereavements, as well as early childhood relationship trauma such as emotional neglect and bullying. After treatment, the painful recollection remains in autobiographical memory but loses its paralysing emotional charge: the patient can think about it without reliving the bodily distress.

4 Emotional stability as a prerequisite and the importance of accreditation

EMDR cannot be practised lightly: it requires postgraduate training certified by EMDR Europe or EMDR France. Before approaching severe traumatic memories, practitioners ensure that patients have sufficient emotional stability, allowing reprocessing to take place safely without a risk of psychological decompensation.