Method emdr (dpdg) Francine Shapiro - desensitization and processing by eye movement. What is good for the client is the DPDG technique (desensitization and eye movement processing)

DPDG (desensitization and processing by eye movements) or in English EMDR - One of the newest methods of psychotherapy, which appeared at the turn of the 80-90s. What is its essence? In humans, like animals, there is a natural mechanism for processing information that is activated during the REM phase (this is a scientifically proven fact). It is in this phase that we dream, and literally - our eyes move quickly from side to side. Therefore, it is not in vain that they say: “Morning is wiser than evening” - in the morning you often look at a problem from a different angle.

Unfortunately, the processing mechanism is imperfect and for various reasons can “freeze” the traumatic experience in the unconscious, together with all the information related to it: images, emotions, physical sensations, thoughts about yourself and the world around us associated with the traumatic event.

In people with panic attacks, ALWAYS there is a traumatic experience that causes them, but it is extremely rare that the connection of anxiety with this experience is realized. These are not necessarily some bright unpleasant childhood events. It is possible that, as a child, a person simply did not chronically receive sufficient care, support and attention, he was often criticized and made high demands. But for simplicity, I will take an example of panic attacks caused by severe shocks.

For example, a girl in kindergarten was terribly punished for describing herself in bed: stripped and forced to stand in front of other guys naked. This incident injured the girl so much that her consciousness was not able to process this experience. As a result, all the memories that belonged to the event: visual images of the teacher and children laughing at her, the sound of laughter, feelings of great shame, fear and suppressed rage, thoughts of her inferiority, loneliness, helplessness, aggressiveness of others, etc., are the girl unconsciously " locked "in a container somewhere deep in her brain, to never again experience anything like that even in her memories.

The neural structures that store this “frozen” clot of injury are isolated from other parts of the cerebral cortex, so at a conscious level, we may not even remember what happened.

In the case of our girl, over time, she could either completely forget about the punishment in the kindergarten, or remember, but at the same time think that this event did not affect her in any way. After all, memories do not bring much concern, or even completely neutral.

But what happened does not disappear without a trace, since the emotional "charge" of the situation has not disappeared. Periodically, feelings will erupt into consciousness, making themselves felt in a variety of ways. In particular, a person may begin panic attacks. Moreover, since the neural network that stores the cause of anxiety is isolated from the rest of the brain, seizures can occur completely unexpectedly and without regard to current circumstances. However, they may arise by association.

For example, with our girl: panic attacks in her are most likely to begin in adolescence, when peer opinion is very important and it is embarrassing to be different from everyone (and the unconscious remembers how cruel the children were with her in kindergarten ...). The girl will begin to experience panic attacks with the same feelings that she had then during the punishment in kindergarten: she will be ashamed, scared, lonely, hopeless. In this case, most likely she will not see any connection with that case.
Panic attacks can begin at completely different times and under different circumstances, especially if the girl had a lot of traumatic situations in childhood. In this case, we can say that the container with alarm periodically overflows and it begins to beat over the edge (and we remember that there is very little free space in it - everything is given for storage of childhood injuries). But panic can occur in girls and by association in similar circumstances. For example, if you need to answer at the blackboard in front of the class, use the school toilet, change clothes before the physical education lesson in front of other girls ...

How does DPDH therapy work for panic disorder? With the help of eye movements and a specially constructed conversation, we find and process blocked neural networks one by one - the very containers with traumatic experiences. As a result, a person gradually realizes the connection between panic attacks and certain events that traumatized him in the past, remembering and reshaping them. But work can take place completely at an unconscious level - the brain processes negative experience without the participation of consciousness. Usually this happens at the level of sensations in the body: a person during a session does not remember anything specific, but at the same time experiences various emotions and bodily sensations. So the same container with alarm is freed. The course of the process for each person is individual, depends on the characteristics of the psyche, and in any case has a positive effect. There is no need to tell the therapist in detail about the situation - this is an absolute plus in DPDH.

Desensitization and eye movement processing (DPDG, English EMDR) is a psychotherapy method developed by Francine Shapiro for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) caused by experiencing stressful events such as violence or participation in hostilities.

According to Shapiro’s theory, when a person experiences a traumatic experience or distress, this experience can “block” the possibilities of his coping mechanisms, then the memory and stimuli associated with the event are processed inappropriately and dysfunctionally stored in isolated areas of memory. The goal of therapy is to process these stressful memories and allow the patient to develop more adaptive coping mechanisms.

There are two opinions regarding the mechanism of DPDG. Shapiro says that despite the various processes that make up DPDH, eye movements add efficiency by triggering neurological and physiological changes that contribute to the processing of traumatic memories in therapy. Other researchers believe that eye movement is not a necessary component, but an epiphenomenon, a side effect, and DPDH is just one form of desensitization.

Method Description

DPDH integrates elements of the psychodynamic, exposure approaches, cognitive, interpersonal, experimental and body-oriented psychotherapy, however it contains a unique element of bilateral stimulation (eye movement, sound and tactile stimulation) in each session.

DPDG uses a structured eight-phase approach that relates to past, present, and future aspects of traumatic experiences and dysfunctionally stored stressful memories. During the processing phase, the patient focuses on disturbing memories for short sessions of 15-30 seconds. At the same time, he simultaneously focuses on alternative stimulation (for example, therapist-guided eye movements, pats on hands or bilateral auditory stimuli).

In each session, such double attention is asked about the associative information that occurs during the procedure. New material usually becomes the focus of the next session. The process of keeping double attention on an alternative stimulus and personal associations is repeated many times during the session.

When a distress or traumatic event is isolated or a single incident occurs (for example, a traffic accident), approximately three sessions are required for the treatment to complete. If a person experiences multiple traumatic events leading to health problems - such as physical, sexual or emotional abuse, parental neglect, serious illness, accident, serious injury or impairment of health leading to chronic impairment of health and well-being, as well as trauma of military operations , treatment can be long and complex, multiple trauma may require more sessions to complete the cure and lasting result

Performance Evaluation [

Recent studies evaluate DPDH as an effective treatment for PTSD. The practice guide of the International Society for the Study of Stress categorizes DPDH as an effective treatment for PTSD in adults. Several international guidelines include DPDH as recommended treatment after physical injury.

Several studies using a meta-analysis have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of PTSD treatment using different methods. In one of them, DPDH is estimated to be equal in terms of the effectiveness of exposure therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Two other independent meta-analyzes show that traditional exposure therapy and DPDH have the same effect immediately after treatment and in subsequent evaluation. A 2007 meta-analysis of 38 randomized controlled trials of PTSD treatment recommends cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or DPDG as the first-line therapy for PTSD.

DPDG (Desensitization and processing by eye movement), in English version EMDR Is a technique created by Francine Shapiro in 1987.

It was originally intended to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) caused by experiencing stressful events, such as:

violence
participation in hostilities,
evidence of disasters
and any other traumatic memories.

The basis of the technique is multidirectional eye movements of the client (patient).

In the classic version, to perform the technique you need an assistant who will drive your fingers in front of your eyes. Using the video below, you can perform the DPDG technique yourself.

The DPDG technique allows literally in 30 minutes:

Relieve stress, emotional fatigue
Get rid of bad memories
Work through the effects of psychological trauma

To perform the technique, expand the video in full screen, and place the monitor (laptop or tablet) at eye level.

Remember the unpleasant experience (memory) that you want to get rid of, and rate it on a scale from 0 to 10 (where “0” is complete indifference, and “10” is the maximum possible intense experience) how much it bothers you.
Feel this experience in your body. Feel exactly where you are experiencing discomfort, imagine and describe what they look like.
Remember (if possible) the words or sounds that accompanied you at the time this experience was formed.
Imagine, observing the sensations in your body, which image (the “picture” of the situation) arises before your eyes when you feel your experience.
Place (transfer in your imagination) this image behind the monitor on which you will watch the video. Turn on the full-screen video recording, and in the foreground, observe the moving white dot on the screen, in the "background" observe the image behind the monitor, and your feelings in the body.

EMDR is a simple and efficient universal technology. For example, it can be used to reassess an unpleasant situation in the past, to change attitudes toward a person or action, to remove fears and unpleasant experiences. Because of its versatility, EMDR is quite suitable for the role of “every day technology”.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — Desensitization and Processing by Eye Movement (DPD). True, the name is somewhat deceiving. "Desensitization" is a way to remove unpleasant tension, fear, etc., but the possibility of technology is much wider. “Eye movement” is also a certain limitation - you can still use arms, legs, sounds, etc. But the name stuck. Another name: "bilateral stimulation of the cerebral hemispheres."

The method was developed by psychology doctor Francine Shapiro in 1987. At first it was mainly used to work with post-traumatic disorders, but then it was actively used in counseling and coaching. Now there are various centers and associations of EMDR therapy. One option for integrating EMDR and NLP approaches is WingWave technology.

The technique consists in sequentially “turning on” the hemispheres with a certain frequency. At the same time, a person enters into a form of trance in which he can solve the situation. Similar techniques include games of the New NLP Code, many Erickson hypnosis techniques, etc.

Description of EMDR in NLP format:

EMDR usually uses three methods for switching hemispheres:
- moving eyes to the right - to the left;
- clapping his hands on his shoulders (arms on his shoulders crosswise);
- clapping his hands on his hips (hands lie on his hips).

You can also use animation - just follow the movement of the orange circle.

Full movement - eyes left and right, both clapping with palms - in one second.
You can a little faster, or a little slower - navigate yourself.

The maximum time per session is 30 seconds. It makes no sense to do more.
If you experience discomfort during the session, such as nausea, your head is spinning, etc. - stop the session. Rarely, but it happens. Usually with eye movement. Then try hand clapping. If, in this case, your head is spinning, it is very possible that EMDR is not for you.

The usual experiences at the end of the session are relaxation and the desire to take a deep breath. As pulled to inhale - stop moving your eyes (tapping yourself on the shoulders or hips) and inhale deeply.
Well, if you inhale, you look up, and when you exhale down.

However, to obtain the result, it is usually required to do several EMDR sessions - from three to ten. With each session, the perception of the problem and the feelings associated with it change somewhat.

What is used for:

The technique is quite universal and can be used in a variety of situations:
- change the assessment of the situation;
- remove strong emotion;
- change the belief;
- make a choice;
- determine the purpose;
- remove the phobia;
- remove obsession;
- transfer a resource from one context to another.

Actually, the technique allows the unconscious to make the necessary change, but for this you first need to give the appropriate instruction.

STEP BY:

1. What are we changing
Determine what exactly you want to change.

2. Focus on the situation
Recognize the feeling associated with this assessment and concentrate on it. Define its kinesthetic submodalities:
- where it is located (most often in the area of \u200b\u200bthe abdomen or chest);
- what is the size of this experience;
- intensity;
- quality: tension, compression, bursting, cold, vibration, movement.

For example:
- An offensive situation in the past - pressure in the chest area;
- fear that I will be late for work - a lump in my stomach;
- irritation about the delay in salary - constriction in the throat.

You can also use a visual image of the situation. But then it is better to use not eye movement - it is difficult to simultaneously hold the image and move your eyes - but clap your hands. In this case, it is equally desirable to define visual submodalities:
- location of the image;
- the size;
- distance;
- brightness;
- the presence of movement;
- focus;
- association / dissociation;
and so on.

In the same way, you can concentrate on the sound - for example, on the voice of a person who annoys you. And, similarly, audio submodalities are clarified:
- volume;
- sound direction;
- height;
- mono / stereo;
- speed.
In short, we need to concentrate on something related to what we are changing: sensation, picture or sound.

3. Make one EMDR session
That is, move your eyes / tap yourself on the shoulders with your hands crosswise to the cross / tap yourself on the hips with your hands until you want to inhale. Or until 30 seconds have passed.

4. Track how the assessment of the situation has changed.
Keep in mind that in EMDR, the process of change usually takes place in several “sessions”: for example, the sensation will gradually change or weaken somehow, until it disappears or becomes subtle. And the picture will become dimmer and move away. And the voice will become quieter.
Or at some point you just feel that is enough.

Usually the result is obtained after 3-4, and sometimes 7-9 sessions. But after each session, usually some kind of change occurs. So you need to track how the score has changed and realize what it means now:

There was irritation - a pulling sensation from the abdomen to the chest, now his intensity has simply decreased;

There was fear - a twisting sensation in the lower abdomen - now this sensation has weakened and more resembles a strong fear;

There used to be excitement, it felt like a bursting in the chest, now instead of bursting, vibration is perceived more as an expectation or warning.

5. Have another EMDR session
If you think it’s worth continuing, do another EMDR session. Repeat steps 3 and 6 until you get the desired change, or until you understand that it is worth finishing the process.

But if you think that you are satisfied with a new assessment or if the feeling after the last session has not changed - you can finish.

6. Functional check
Imagine how you now behave in the situation with which you worked. How have your feelings changed and how do you now behave in this situation?

EXAMPLES OF USING

Unpleasant situation:focus on the feeling / image / sound associated with this situation and do EMDR sessions until you get an acceptable grade.

Strong emotion: concentrate on the sensation, do as many EMDR sessions as you need to reduce the experience to an acceptable level.
Changing beliefs: formulate the belief you want to change. Visualize it. Make an EMDR session. Examine the resulting image and articulate how conviction now sounds. Repeat the process if necessary.

Resource Transfer: determine the situation in which you want to add the resource and what exactly you will add. Visualize the resource as an image. Give a command, add a resource to the situation. Perform an EMDR session (or sessions) until a resource is added.

Selection: visualize the images of the choices and mentally place these choices in front of you. Make an EMDR session and track how the images have changed - usually one becomes brighter, closer, sharper, and the second moves away and dims. Repeat until the difference between the images is sufficient.

Goal setting:create an image of your current view of the goal and speak its description. Make an EMDR session. Track image changes and formulate a current description of the goal. Repeat until you decide that the idea of \u200b\u200bthe goal is most suitable for you (clear, clear, definite, etc.)

Bilateral stimulation of the functional activity of the cerebral hemispheres, e.g., according to the EMDR method

In the late 80s. American psychotherapist Francine Shapiro discovered and developed an unusual treatment for post-traumatic stress. 7 years ago, the German magazine “SPIEGEL” gave this EMDR method new to Germany the name “vinke-vinke-therapy” (* from German. Wink - wave). The public was delighted and alarmed at the same time by this new idea that came from America, with the help of which it became possible to lift mental blockades with one movement of the fingers. Indeed, in the practice of this method, the decisive role is played by the rapid movements of the fingers in front of the patient's eyes (in this case, the patient watches the movements of the fingers with his eyes). The resulting rapid eye movements resemble the REM phase typical of all people in a dream: Rapid Eye Movement. The acronym EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (Desensitization and regeneration of eye movement).

Of course, even before the advent of the EMDR technique, some therapeutic stimulation techniques using eye movements were known - but their prevalence was not as fast as in the case of the EMDR method. In kinesiology, for example, they are forced to follow the stationary target with their eyes. Techniques using a watch as a pendulum (classical hypnosis) are also known. Also in yoga - with its oldest physiotherapeutic methods in the world - there are a number of exercises for the eyes. Even in traditional oriental dances, rapid eye movements in different directions are also given importance; they are learned specifically, like dance steps, and along with the aesthetic, they also perform a healing function.

More and more experts suggest that the positive effect of these stimulation techniques is explained by the optimal interaction of both hemispheres and all parts of the cerebral cortex. Therefore, in the EMDR method, the functional activity of the brain is stimulated not only by eye movement, but also use (as in other methods) auditory and tactile impulse effects exerted on the left / right hemisphere of the brain. This method is supported, for example, in various areas of kinesiology, where various techniques are used, associated with special movements of the arms and legs to improve academic performance. And the followers of neuro-linguistic programming know that the intervention in brain activity is considered successful only if the patient after the session sits or stands in a completely symmetrical pose due to the action of an internal impulse - perhaps this is a sign that after the session all parts of the brain responsible for necessary changes, began to interact optimally.

These widely known prerequisites served as the basis for the methodology. wing wave coaching, which combines all the known techniques of bilateral stimulation of the functional activity of the cerebral hemispheres. The client always chooses the appropriate technique (visual, auditory or tactile): the coach always works with the technique that has had the most positive effect on the client. Because it is she who clearly influences the generation of brilliant ideas, contributing to the best interaction of the client with his mental resources. The word "wing" in the technique wing wave-coaching indicates that a purposeful and safe “flight” is possible only if the “wings” - bearing surfaces - are optimally aligned to each other - similar to how both hemispheres of the brain should function in concert.

Despite the apparent simplicity of application, the EMDR technique is now ranked among the most effective psychotherapeutic methods for the treatment of post-traumatic mental disorders. Numerous positive results indicate the positive effects of targeted bilateral stimulation of the functional activity of the cerebral hemispheres when used in therapy and coaching. Geo Magazine writes in its May 2002 edition: “Meanwhile, the EMDR technique is considered a thoroughly studied post-traumatic therapy.” Also, the Hamburger medical publication “Hamburger Ärzteblatt“ 10/01 classifies this technique as well-studied.

Both books by F. Shapiro, EMDR - Fundamentals and Practices, Paderborn: Publisher Junfermann 1999, and also: EMDR in Action - The Practical Application of the New Course of Short-Term Therapy, Paderborn: Publisher Junfermann 2001, are a classic source.

Description of the EMDR Method

You can conduct a session yourself.

“The DPDG technique is based on random observation that was made in May 1987. Once, while walking in the park, I noticed that some of the thoughts that bothered me suddenly disappeared. I also noted that if you recall these thoughts in your mind, they they no longer have such a negative effect and do not seem as real as before.

My previous experience told me that all disturbing thoughts tend to form a kind of vicious circle - appearing, they tend to come back again and again until you make a conscious effort to suspend them or change their character. However, on this day my attention was drawn to the fact that the thoughts that bothered me disappeared and changed their character without any conscious effort on my part.

Amazed by this, I began to pay close attention to everything that was happening. I noted that when disturbing thoughts arose, my eyes spontaneously began to move quickly from side to side and up and down diagonally.

Then the thoughts that bothered me disappeared, and when I deliberately tried to recall them, the negative charge inherent in these thoughts turned out to be significantly reduced.

Noticing this, I began to make eye movements intentionally, concentrating on various unpleasant thoughts and memories. I noticed that all these thoughts also disappeared and lost their negative emotional coloring.

Realizing all the potential benefits of this effect, I became very excited.

A few days later I tried to apply my discovery to other people: friends, colleagues, and participants in the psychological seminars that I attended at that time. They had a large number of the most diverse complaints of a non-pathological nature, as well as, probably, all people.

When I asked, “What would you like to work on?” People usually talked about their current memories, ideas or situations. Moreover, their complaints ranged from a wide range of humiliations in early childhood to the grievances currently undergoing.

Then I showed them how to quickly move my eyes from side to side, offering to repeat these movements after me, focusing on my problems.

First of all, I found that most people do not have arbitrary control of the muscles responsible for eye movements, and cannot continue these movements for an unlimited time.

Intending to continue my research, I suggested that my friends follow my eyes with the movements of my finger, moving my hand from side to side, so that my eyes would move at about the same speed and in the same direction as during my first experiment in the park.

This method turned out to be much more effective, but I noticed that although after such a procedure people began to feel clearly better, they continued to be fixed on the problems that bothered them. To overcome this fixation, I tried to apply different types of eye movements (faster, slower, in different directions), offering to focus on different things - for example, on various aspects of my memories or what feelings are associated with these memories.

Then I began to study what forms of work can give the best result, developing standard methods for starting and ending eye movement sessions that give the greatest positive effect.

After about six months, I developed a standard procedure that clearly led to fewer complaints. Since my attention from the very beginning was focused on the problem of reducing anxiety (as it was in my own experience), and my theoretical orientation at that time was primarily related to the behavioral approach, I called my procedure Desensitization with eye movements (DD).

Fragment of a DPDG session

The client’s name is Eric, he is 39 years old, he is a programmer.

Psychotherapist: Let's start with the fact that you imagine the face of a person whom you consider an incompetent employee. Look at this face and feel how incompetent it is. How would you rate his incompetence, from 0 to 10 points?

Eric: Seven points.

[The client imagines the employee’s face and gives an initial assessment of his incompetence of seven points on the scale of subjective units of concern.]

Psychotherapist: Focus on this feeling and watch my finger for the eyes (the client, under the supervision of a psychotherapist, makes a series of eye movements). Good. Now do not think about it; inhale and exhale. What do you feel now?

Eric: I dont know. I think I feel a little better. Before I came here, I worked out some things, and finally today I realized on an intellectual level ... This is work ... you know, I do not fit into the schedule, other people are unhappy, but ... it always happens ... I mean, in the computer business, someone is always late. So I started to make some connections with all this ...

[This is the first channel of information that opened during the DPDG session. The therapist then decides to return to the original goal.]

Psychotherapist: Good. If you again remember the face of the employee, how would you now determine the degree of his incompetence, from 0 to 10 points?

Eric: I think five points.

Psychotherapist: Hold this image (holds the next series of eye movements for the client). Good. Now forget about it, take a breath and exhale. What is happening now?

[As we will see, the new channel was opened precisely because the customer returned in their original purpose. The second channel points to a chain of associative material linked by the idea of \u200b\u200b“personal acceptance.”]

Eric: I realized that my frustration is partly connected with a difficult relationship with a chef who is not able to appreciate the abilities of other people. I think that I feel all this a little better than others. But, it seems to me, everyone would need to understand this. And until my boss recognizes my abilities, I will return again and again to the need for a sense of my own competence, as well as to the need for other people to acknowledge my competence.

Psychotherapist: Think about all this (conducts the following series of eye movements). Good. Now forget about all this, take a breath and exhale. How would you rate what you feel now?

Eric: Probably four or three points. Gradually, the realization comes to me that I do not really need acceptance from other people. After all, I am accepted by those who are significant to me. But my boss is also one of these significant people, and on his part I just don’t feel the acceptance. Although this is essentially his problem, not mine (laughs).

[At this point, a therapist using traditional approaches may be tempted to start a discussion with the client about how to help him change his relationship system. However, in the case of DPDH this is contraindicated.

The therapist needs to offer the client to keep in consciousness everything that he has just said, and then conduct another series of eye movements for him to stimulate further processing. After that, the client will offer a new version of what is happening to him. As we will see, the client will reach a new “plateau” and the information will take on a more adaptive form.]

Psychotherapist: Good. Think about it (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Good. Now forget about it, take a breath and exhale. What is going on with you?

Eric: I suppose it’s enough to accept him. I don’t need anymore. I understand that my boss needs me now, so I won’t be left without work. It suits me.

Psychotherapist: Good. Think about it (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Now forget about everything and breathe deeply. What do you feel now?

Eric: It seems to me ... that in a couple of months the pressure of the whole situation related to the work on the completion of the project will ease, and he will clearly see ...

Psychotherapist: Good. Keep all this in mind (holds the next series of eye movements for the client). Good. Now forget about everything, take a breath and exhale. What is going on with you?

Eric: About the same.

[When the client does not notice any changes, while feeling relatively comfortable, the therapist can conclude that the patient has completely “cleared” this second channel and that it is necessary to return it to its original purpose again.]

Psychotherapist: Good. And what happens if you again return to the image of a person whom you perceive as incompetent? What do you feel now?

Eric: He is bothering me. I know that in the future I may again feel frustration because of this face, but I think that it will not be so strong anymore.

[Note that although the client’s level of anxiety has decreased, it has not completely disappeared. Over the next series of eye movements, the processing process stimulated information associatively hidden in the third channel. Here we find the influence of traumatic material related to the Vietnam War: if someone in Vietnam was incompetent, it meant that such people would die.]

Psychotherapist: And now again imagine his face and feel incompetence (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Good. Now forget about all this, take a breath and exhale. What do you feel?

Eric: I realized that in this case, the stakes are, in general, not so high. I understand that I am right, but he is simply incompetent in this area, trying to get into his own business and spoils everything ... (laughs). I think that all this can be viewed from the other side ...

Psychotherapist: Indeed, you are right. Keep this in mind (conducts another series of eye movements). Good. Now forget about all this, take a breath and exhale. What are you feeling right now?

Eric: Oh, it’s so nice to know ... it’s so nice to think that the stakes are, in fact, not so high and that all these relationships are like several computers connected to each other ... and that as a result of all this, no one will die from the fact that you you can’t look at what is happening from the other side ...

Psychotherapist: Go back to this picture. What do you feel?

Eric: Comic of all this!

[Since the two previous types of reactions were the same and the client felt relatively comfortable, the third channel could also be considered cleaned. After that, the original target was called again. Now it becomes apparent that the client’s reaction to an incompetent employee has become completely different. Only after release from the psychological pressure of the traumatic experience associated with Vietnam, the client began to react to what was happening more calmly.]

Psychotherapist: Yes.

Eric: I realized that this employee is generally a great guy. Very capable. And when I look at the mistakes he makes, they seem funny and funny to me - we all made such mistakes at first, trying to do such a job. You know how it happens when a problem arises and you solve a small part of it. The problem can be huge, but you boldly dig: “The problem is huge? Nothing, I can! ”, Because in reality you saw only a piece of it (laughs). And since you were very inspired to discover this piece, you decide that this is the whole problem ... Other people can see it all just as clearly, and often they manage to deal with such things better. All this is quite funny ... You know: “What do you want from him at his level?”. It’s just that others tolerate it easier, but they all understand it, and when a person believes that he can solve everything in the world, this is a kind of cunning and deception of himself.

Psychotherapist: Good. Think about it (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Now erase it all, take a breath and exhale. What are you feeling right now?

Eric: About the same.

Psychotherapist: Perfectly.

Eric: Yes, I feel good. It turns out that it’s so nice not to feel any more frustration, not to feel anger, as I had last week. Then everything fell upon me, and I felt my complete powerlessness. Tried to get out, but couldn't. "

P.S. You can move your fingers independently to the right to the left in front of the eyes, while presenting a traumatic situation.

What is EMDR therapy (DPDH)?

We all sometimes feel “out of order”, while having a satisfactory physical condition. Some were even less fortunate: loneliness, fear, apathy or depression have long woven into their usual way of life ...

But even from school, we know that the source of most of these troubles is in the psyche (soul) and its material substrate - the brain. And that for the healing of the soul and brain, mankind, in addition to religion and various spiritual practices, has created a whole branch of scientific knowledge - psychotherapy.

More recently, one very good psychotherapeutic method was born: EMDR therapy, or DPDG. Let's try to find out what it is.

EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or in Russian - DPDG - Desensitization and Processing (injury) Eye Movements

History of DPDG

The creator of EMDR therapy, psychologist Francine Shapiro, in 1987 discovered (by her own example) that rhythmic eye movements + concentration of attention on anxiety reduce its intensity(effect of desensitization).

Initially, it was assumed that the scope of this phenomenon would not be wide. Unless to help calm down some clients experiencing acute stress (instead of pills).

If it weren’t for one curious detail: some “calmed” ones in this way began to celebrate not a fleeting improvement, but sustained remission(read - recovery). Thoughts, images, memories, and bodily sensations that were previously disturbing not only lost their negative character, but also quickly turned into a neutral tinted experience.

Such results seemed at least exaggerated. After all, it is well known that the processing of psychological trauma requires a long, sometimes extended for years, psychotherapy. (I can confirm this as a practicing psychologist and a Gestalt therapist with experience).

But the first clinical study conducted by Francine Shapiro on the effect of eye movements showed a significant reduction in symptoms of trauma in a group of survivors of sexual violence, as well as among war veterans in Vietnam. Similar results were obtained in subsequent numerous studies.

How does EMDR therapy work?

Naturally, everyone was interested in how the simple eye movements allow a person to recover amazingly quickly from the effects of stress and psychological trauma? And what prevented this from being achieved in other areas of psychotherapy?

As you know, in the brain, it first “settles”, and then a kind of “digestion” passes through almost any information perceived by a person. The basis of this is a very complex physiological mechanism for the formation of nerve connections between brain cells - neurons.

When a person lives through a traumatic event, distress, information about this is also stored in the brain, undergoes processing and turns into a life experience.

Example. There was a nuisance with us - say, a humiliating situation at work arose. We are worried about this: we think about what happened, we talk about it, we dream about it. Over time, anxiety decreases, we gain experience: we begin to better understand what is happening, learn new things about ourselves and others, and also gain the ability to more effectively deal with similar situations in the future.

But annoyance! The mentioned processing of the negative may not occur. The most common reasons for this are:

a traumatic event occurs in childhood, when the brain does not have enough resources for successful processing;
traumatic event is recurring;
traumatic event is too painful for the body.

And the brain, for the sake of maintaining mental health, can "go to extremes": push the negative information to hell, refusing to process it.

Yes, this allows you to survive at the time of distress. But a side effect is also present in the form of constant excitation of certain parts of the brain (see. Figure). From here come nightmares, painful memories, or obsessive thoughts — common symptoms of PTSD. I am silent about how a person feels in situations that have at least some similarities with the situation of injury!

Any psychotherapy is aimed at helping a person:

a) "get" the existing negative from the unconscious;
b) recycle it.

But the brain “hid” it all for the sake of its own entertainment. Therefore, the client often has to deal with the so-called "resistance": the unwillingness of the brain to stir up unpleasant experiences.

In this regard, the traditional areas of psychotherapy: psychoanalysis, gestalt therapy, etc. resemble the treatment of a dentist without anesthesia: recovery is possible, but the patient will have to “tolerate” a lot. Taking medications (without psychological study) is like anesthesia, but without the treatment itself.

In EMDR therapy, these shortcomings are minimized. DPDG provides sufficient desensitization(decrease in sensitivity), as a result of which the brain ceases to be “afraid” of restarting the innate mechanism by recyclable stressful, traumatic information.

And then trauma-related information with each series of eye movements begins accelerated mannermove along neurophysiological paths until its painless awareness and “dissolution” is achieved - integration with already existing positive information. As a result, the memory of the events remains, but the mental health disorder is neutralized.

Benefits of EMDR Therapy

The main advantages of DPDH include the short-term achievement of the results of psychotherapy and their stability. Please review some of the results of recent clinical trials:

Perhaps some more facts will seem interesting to you:

The National Mental Health Council (Israel) recommends EMDR (and 2 more methods) for treating victims of terrorism (2002);
The American Psychiatric Association recommends EMDR as an effective treatment for psychiatric trauma (2004);
The Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans of the USA ranked DPDH as the highest category for the treatment of intense trauma (2004);
Among all psychotherapeutic methods, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Great Britain) recognized only KBT and EMDR as empirically proven for the treatment of adults suffering from PTSD (2005).

Indications for DPG

Currently, EMDR-therapy is successfully used in working with various psychological problems:

self-doubt, increased anxiety, depression, phobias and panic attacks, sexual disorders, eating disorders;
experiencing acute grief associated with the loss or illness of a loved one, separation;
dissociative disorders;
fears in children;
PTSD in victims of attacks, disasters and fires;
and much more.

Conclusion

I don’t know whether to be happy or upset, but EMDR therapy is not suitable for all who apply. With every third client I work only in line with the good old gestalt.

Nevertheless, when the EMDR method is applicable, I never cease to be surprised (as in that distant 2008, when I first experienced its effect on myself).

No, nothing supernatural happens, everything is “as usual”. The client goes through the same regular phases of treatment as, say, in gestalt therapy. It is surprising only to observe the change of these phases during one session, and not several months.

And what do you choose: psychotherapy lasting 10-20 sessions or therapy lasting 10-20 months? Probably the first. Especially if they prove to you that the probability of achieving your goals is very high.

Maybe that's why, despite the abundance of various psychotherapeutic schools, EMDR-therapy still managed to take its rightful place in the world of psychology.

Description of EMDR Method

EMDR (desensitization and processing of injuries with eye movements) is a new unique psychotherapy technique that is extremely effective in treating emotional injuries. Psychotherapists all over the world today, in addition to classical methods, use it in work with those who have experienced emotional trauma, since using EMDR you can solve psychological problems much faster than with traditional forms of psychotherapy.

Method discovery:

The emergence of the EMDR technique is associated with the occasional observation of the calming effects of spontaneously repeating eye movements on unpleasant thoughts.

EMDR was created by psychologist-psychotherapist Francine Shapiro in 1987. Once, while walking in the park, she noticed that the thoughts that bothered her suddenly disappeared. Francine also noted that if you recall these thoughts in your mind, they no longer have such a negative effect and do not seem as real as before. She noted that when disturbing thoughts arose, her eyes spontaneously began to move quickly from side to side and up and down diagonally. Then the disturbing thoughts disappeared, and when she deliberately tried to remember them, the negative charge inherent in these thoughts turned out to be significantly reduced.

Noticing this, Francine began to make eye movements intentionally, concentrating on various unpleasant thoughts and memories. these thoughts also disappeared and lost their negative emotional stain.

Shapiro asked her friends, colleagues and participants in psychological seminars to do the same exercise. The results were amazing: the level of anxiety decreased and people could more calmly and realistically perceive what bothered them.

So by chance this new psychotherapy technique was discovered. In less than 20 years, Shapiro and her colleagues specialized in the field of DPG for more than 25,000 psychotherapists from different countries, which made the method one of the most rapidly spreading psychotechnologies worldwide.

Francine Shapiro now works at the Institute for Brain Research in Palo Alto (USA). In 2002, she was awarded the Sigmund Freud Prize - the most important world award in the field of psychotherapy.

How does EMDR work?

Each of us has an innate physiological mechanism for processing information that keeps our mental health at an optimal level. Our natural internal information processing system is organized in such a way that it allows it to restore mental health in the same way that the body naturally heals after an injury. So, for example, if you cut your arm, then the forces of the body will be aimed at ensuring that the wound heals. If something interferes with such healing - some external object or repeated trauma - the wound begins to fester and causes pain. If you remove the obstacle, the healing will be completed.

The balance of our natural system of information processing at the neurophysiological level can be disturbed during trauma or stress arising in the course of our lives. Thus, the natural tendency of the information processing system of the brain to ensure the state of mental health is blocked. As a result, various psychological problems arise, since psychological problems are the result of negative traumatic information accumulated in the nervous system. The key to psychological change is the ability to produce the necessary processing of information.

EMDR - This is a method of accelerated information processing. The technology is based on the natural process of tracking eye movements that activate the internal mechanism of processing traumatic memories in the nervous system. Certain eye movements lead to an involuntary connection to the innate physiological mechanism for processing traumatic information, which creates a psychotherapeutic effect. As traumatic information is transformed, a concomitant change in thinking, behavior, emotions, sensations, and visual images of a person occurs. Metaphorically speaking, we can consider the processing mechanism as a process of a kind of “digestion”, or “metabolism” of information so that it can be used to heal and improve the quality of human life.

Using EMDR, traumatic information is made available, processed and adaptively resolved. Our negative emotions are processed to a gradual weakening, while there is a kind of training that helps to integrate these emotions and use them in the future.

The processing process can occur when using not only eye movements, but also with the help of other external stimuli, such as tapping the client’s palm, flashes of light or auditory irritants.

After one EMDR session, a person can remember a traumatic event more neutrally, without the occurrence of intense emotions. People begin to more realistically and constructively perceive what has happened and to more positively relate to themselves: “I did everything I could,” “What happened in the past. Now I am safe "," I managed to save my life and this is the main thing. " In addition to such positive changes in thoughts and beliefs, obsessive images of a traumatic event usually stop.

EMDR Application

EMDR successfully helps with self-doubt, increased anxiety, depression, phobias, panic attacks, sexual disorders, addictions, eating disorders - anorexia, bulimia and compulsive overeating.

EMDR helps normalize the condition of victims of attacks, disasters, and fires.

Reduces the experience of excessive grief associated with the loss of a loved one or loved one, or the death of other people.

In EMDR therapy, early negative childhood memories, later traumatic events, or current painful situations can be chosen as the target.

EMDR promotes emotional balance, the formation of adequate self-esteem, self-esteem and self-confidence.

EMDR (DPDG) - This is a quick and painless method of psychological assistance, thanks to which you can simply and reliably get rid of fears, anxiety, the consequences of injuries and a negative attitude to life. Efficiency EMDR proven scientifically: through clinical research and study on MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging).

The basis of the method EMDRthe idea of \u200b\u200bbilateral stimulation is put:

The movements of the eyeballs at a certain pace and according to a certain pattern stimulate the alternate work of different cerebral hemispheres.
Rapid eye movements make one or the other hemisphere “turn on”.
Such alternate work positively affects the emotional state, eliminating and reducing the negative impact of traumatic events, fears and experiences.

Abbreviation EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Russian name EMDR - the method translates as “Desensitization through eye movements and reprocessing”, or briefly - "DPDG".

What is EMDR or DPDG?

Like many other remarkable scientific discoveries, EMDR (DPDG) was discovered by accident. Clinical psychologist Francine Shapiro (USA) was very worried about the effects of chemotherapy: not only her body, but also her soul suffered. The American was very nervous, worried and, of course, afraid. However, Francis noticed that her nervousness was greatly reduced, and her fear receded if she moved her eyeballs in a certain order. The psychologist became interested in this phenomenon and began to carefully study it.

In the course of scientific research, the scientists explained the phenomenon of positive psychological effects of special eye movements using the adaptive information processing model.

What is this model?

Suppose you inadvertently touch a hot pan. It is painful and unpleasant. The memory of this event should benefit you: you will become more careful, prudent, more careful. Normally, this is adaptive, correct, information processing. Stress, malaise and other factors reduce our adaptability, and then the information is absorbed non-adaptively. For example, we begin to panicly fear all pans, instead of adjusting our behavior based on experience.

Memory is a collection of neural connections. It is believed that the memory of a traumatic event can be “encapsulated”: neurons form a capsule, and do not interact outside this capsule. If the memory was encapsulated, the slightest reminder of the traumatic event is enough to cause a powerful, often destructive emotional reaction. This reminder is called a “trigger,” a trigger that brings us back to our original experience of pain, fear, and disgust.

We give one more example. It was raining, it was slippery, the man was in a hurry, as a result he slipped and fell, broke his leg. The turning point has long and successfully grown together, but it is worth the rain when a wave of emotions rolls over a person: fear, severe pain, despair and a feeling of helplessness. Perhaps, due to non-adaptive processing of information, a neural capsule of memory about a fracture was formed, and rain became a “trigger”, triggering a strong emotional reaction.

Particularly organized eye movements provide safe bilateral stimulation of the cerebral hemispheres, which destroys the neural memory capsule, which contains information about a tragic event or distress. For simplicity, a neural memory capsule can be compared to muscle spasm. EMDR helps break down this neural capsule, just as a good professional massage helps to relax a muscle spasmed by spasm. EMDR (DPDG) - This is a kind of wellness “massage for the soul” that removes pain and discomfort.

Who is EMDR suitable for?

EMDR perfectly helps those who have experienced a trauma or traumatic event, faced with an unexpected painful experience. When the injury left a deep, non-healing wound - EMDR helps to heal her and start living anew. If the traumatic event was not so serious and left only a scratch that slightly bruises - EMDR help her to drag out as soon as possible, remove negative feelings and pain. EMDR helps everyone: those who survived the attack, and those who had a car accident.

EMDR copes with:

Fears
Phobias
Obsessive states
Anxiety

Whatever you fear EMDR will help overcome this fear:

Fear of heights
Dog fear
Fear of driving
Fear of flying an airplane
and many other fears

If you have a panic attack in public transport, if you are afraid of the authorities (fear of civil servants, officials, policemen) or are afraid to tremble with your boss about work problems, EMDR Is the right choice.

What do you get from EMDR (DPDG)?

As a result of the session EMDR a sad, scary or traumatic event will cease to be so. The very memory of a problem situation or experience will not disappear, but its soreness will significantly decrease, disappear. You will cease to feel fear, anxiety, pain, sadness when you think about what happened, when you are faced with what used to cause strong negative feelings.

Second effect EMDR - This is an increase in independence, freedom to choose. Thanks EMDR, instead of responding to a trigger, that is, to a painful situation, as you are used to, for example, with tears or fear, you can choose your reaction and your behavior. In situations reminiscent of an injury, you will feel stronger, more independent, because you can easily control your behavior and do what you yourself want, and not as the injury “requires” you.

In addition, you will receive a unique tool for self-regulation. Via EMDR You will learn how to independently, without the help of a psychologist, bring yourself into a resource state, easily cope with the destructive effects of stress, sudden panic and a sense of powerlessness. After the session EMDRyou can always and everywhere rely quickly on your strengths, your assets and resources, and instantly feel a surge of strength, energy, calmness and enthusiasm.

EMDR Security (DPDG)

EMDR It is not hypnosis or unauthorized influence on the psyche. All changes occur under the strict control of the client, it is the client who carries out all the main work on himself. Psychologist, specialist in EMDR, is only your assistant along the way, an application expert EMDR and plays a supporting role. You can stop the session at any time. EMDRif you find it necessary.

Method EMDR (DPDG) used for thirty years. Its effectiveness is confirmed by controlled clinical trials and results. MRI. Along with cognitive-behavioral therapy, in the USA, the EMDR method is considered the most effective in working with post-traumatic syndrome.

Application procedure EMDR standardized, refined and agreed upon by leading professionals in the field of psychological counseling. This provides additional security and guarantees the result - EMDR is applied according to the protocol, that is, a certain scheme that all psychologists are required to follow.

How is the EMDR (DPDG) session?

At the beginning of the session EMDR a relaxation exercise is done and a comfortable state is fixed, so that at any moment you can quickly return to it. Then EMDR treapeut speaks with the client about the problem situation, helping to remember when such negative feelings arose earlier.

The earliest traumatic situation is found and the main work begins. Several series and sets are made, during each client leads his eyes at a certain pace and according to a certain pattern. In between sets EMDR- A specialist using therapeutic conversation helps you and controls your condition. As a result, the neural memory capsule begins to dissolve, the constriction goes away, the severity of the reaction disappears, the attitude to the problem situation changes.

At the end of the session, you learn to independently return to a comfortable, resourceful state. A comfortable state is a state of peace and balance, relaxation and harmony. All his power can be used for the good in his new life, without unnecessarily heavy experiences and uncontrolled emotional reactions.

Benefits of EMDR (DPDG)

If you’re not ready to share the details of your problem, EMDR will still be effective for you. As a result EMDRSessions the memory itself is not erased, EMDR focuses not on the content, but on the form. In other words, EMDR It does not work with what you remember, but with the way you remember. Thereby, EMDR and allows you to work out a negative experience without talking about it.

EMDR not only destroys the neural capsule, helping you reduce the severity of negative experiences and get rid of fears. Thanks EMDR internal work begins EMDRstimulates a return to adaptive information processing, starts the process of its normalization.

Unfortunately, difficult experiences, difficult situations, fears and stresses negatively affect our perception of ourselves, our self-esteem. We blame ourselves for what happened, scold us, and gradually begin to feel worse about ourselves. EMDR helps to restore self-esteem, strengthen self-esteem and eliminate negative ideas about their abilities and character.

Another plus EMDR - this is short-term. Significant results can be achieved extremely quickly: two to five sessions are enough. And sometimes one.

The basis of the method EMDRthe idea of \u200b\u200bbilateral stimulation is put:

The movements of the eyeballs at a certain pace and according to a certain pattern stimulate the alternate work of different cerebral hemispheres.
Rapid eye movements make one or the other hemisphere “turn on”.
Such alternate work positively affects the emotional state, eliminating and reducing the negative impact of traumatic events, fears and experiences.

What is EMDR or DPDG?

In the course of scientific research, the scientists explained the phenomenon of positive psychological effects of special eye movements using the adaptive information processing model.

What is this model?

Who is EMDR suitable for?

EMDR copes with:

Fears
Phobias
Obsessive states
Anxiety

Whatever you fear EMDR will help overcome this fear:

Fear of heights
Dog fear
Fear of driving
Fear of flying an airplane
and many other fears

What do you get from EMDR (DPDG)?

In addition, you will receive a unique tool for self-regulation. Via EMDR You will learn how to independently, without the help of a psychologist, bring yourself into a resource state, easily cope with the destructive effects of stress, sudden panic and a sense of powerlessness. After the session EMDR you can always and everywhere rely quickly on your strengths, your assets and resources, and instantly feel a surge of strength, energy, calmness and enthusiasm.

EMDR Security (DPDG)

How is the EMDR (DPDG) session?

Benefits of EMDR (DPDG)

EMDR not only destroys the neural capsule, helping you reduce the severity of negative experiences and get rid of fears. Thanks EMDR internal work begins EMDR stimulates a return to adaptive information processing, starts the process of its normalization.

Another plus EMDR - this is short-term. Significant results can be achieved extremely quickly: two to five sessions are enough. And sometimes one.

Keywords: emdr, dpdg, desensitization and processing by eye movement, desensitization using eye movements

subprogramming of the subconscious, without dialogue with the subconscious, contact techniques of energy therapy

Comments

Description of EMDR Method
EMDR (desensitization and processing of injuries with eye movements) is a new unique psychotherapy technique that is extremely effective in treating emotional injuries. Psychotherapists all over the world today, in addition to classical methods, use it in work with those who have experienced emotional trauma, since using EMDR you can solve psychological problems much faster than with traditional forms of psychotherapy.
Method discovery:
The emergence of the EMDR technique is associated with the occasional observation of the calming effects of spontaneously repeating eye movements on unpleasant thoughts.
EMDR was created by psychologist-psychotherapist Francine Shapiro in 1987. Once, while walking in the park, she noticed that the thoughts that bothered her suddenly disappeared. Francine also noted that if you recall these thoughts in your mind, they no longer have such a negative effect and do not seem as real as before. She noted that when disturbing thoughts arose, her eyes spontaneously began to move quickly from side to side and up and down diagonally. Then the disturbing thoughts disappeared, and when she deliberately tried to remember them, the negative charge inherent in these thoughts turned out to be significantly reduced.
Noticing this, Francine began to make eye movements intentionally, concentrating on various unpleasant thoughts and memories. these thoughts also disappeared and lost their negative emotional stain.
Shapiro asked her friends, colleagues and participants in psychological seminars to do the same exercise. The results were amazing: the level of anxiety decreased and people could more calmly and realistically perceive what bothered them.
So by chance this new psychotherapy technique was discovered. In less than 20 years, Shapiro and her colleagues specialized in the field of DPG for more than 25,000 psychotherapists from different countries, which made the method one of the most rapidly spreading psychotechnologies worldwide.
Francine Shapiro now works at the Institute for Brain Research in Palo Alto (USA). In 2002, she was awarded the Sigmund Freud Prize - the most important world award in the field of psychotherapy.
How does EMDR work?
Each of us has an innate physiological mechanism for processing information that keeps our mental health at an optimal level. Our natural internal information processing system is organized in such a way that it allows it to restore mental health in the same way that the body naturally heals after an injury. So, for example, if you cut your arm, then the forces of the body will be aimed at ensuring that the wound heals. If something interferes with such healing - some external object or repeated trauma - the wound begins to fester and causes pain. If you remove the obstacle, the healing will be completed.
The balance of our natural system of information processing at the neurophysiological level can be disturbed during trauma or stress arising in the course of our lives. Thus, the natural tendency of the information processing system of the brain to ensure the state of mental health is blocked. As a result, various psychological problems arise, since psychological problems are the result of negative traumatic information accumulated in the nervous system. The key to psychological change is the ability to produce the necessary processing of information.
EMDR - This is a method of accelerated information processing. The technology is based on the natural process of tracking eye movements that activate the internal mechanism of processing traumatic memories in the nervous system. Certain eye movements lead to an involuntary connection to the innate physiological mechanism for processing traumatic information, which creates a psychotherapeutic effect. As traumatic information is transformed, a concomitant change in thinking, behavior, emotions, sensations, and visual images of a person occurs. Metaphorically speaking, we can consider the processing mechanism as a process of a kind of “digestion”, or “metabolism” of information so that it can be used to heal and improve the quality of human life.
Using EMDR, traumatic information is made available, processed and adaptively resolved. Our negative emotions are processed to a gradual weakening, while there is a kind of training that helps to integrate these emotions and use them in the future.
The processing process can occur when using not only eye movements, but also with the help of other external stimuli, such as tapping the client’s palm, flashes of light or auditory irritants.
After one EMDR session, a person can remember a traumatic event more neutrally, without the occurrence of intense emotions. People begin to more realistically and constructively perceive what has happened and to more positively relate to themselves: “I did everything I could,” “What happened in the past. Now I am safe "," I managed to save my life and this is the main thing. " In addition to such positive changes in thoughts and beliefs, obsessive images of a traumatic event usually stop.
EMDR Application
EMDR successfully helps with self-doubt, increased anxiety, depression, phobias, panic attacks, sexual disorders, addictions, eating disorders - anorexia, bulimia and compulsive overeating.
EMDR helps normalize the condition of victims of attacks, disasters, and fires.
Reduces the experience of excessive grief associated with the loss of a loved one or loved one, or the death of other people.
In EMDR therapy, early negative childhood memories, later traumatic events, or current painful situations can be chosen as the target.
EMDR promotes emotional balance, the formation of adequate self-esteem, self-esteem and self-confidence.
What is EMDR therapy (DPDH)?
We all sometimes feel “out of order”, while having a satisfactory physical condition. Some were even less fortunate: loneliness, fear, apathy or depression have long woven into their usual way of life ...
But even from school, we know that the source of most of these troubles is in the psyche (soul) and its material substrate - the brain. And that for the healing of the soul and brain, mankind, in addition to religion and various spiritual practices, has created a whole branch of scientific knowledge - psychotherapy.
More recently, one very good psychotherapeutic method was born: EMDR therapy, or DPDG. Let's try to find out what it is.
EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or in Russian - DPDG - Desensitization and Processing (injury) Eye Movements

History of DPDG
The creator of EMDR therapy, psychologist Francine Shapiro, in 1987 discovered (by her own example) that rhythmic eye movements + concentration of attention on anxiety reduce its intensity (effect of desensitization).
Initially, it was assumed that the scope of this phenomenon would not be wide. Unless to help calm down some clients experiencing acute stress (instead of pills).
If it weren’t for one curious detail: some “calmed” ones in this way began to celebrate not a fleeting improvement, but sustained remission(read - recovery). Thoughts, images, memories, and bodily sensations that were previously disturbing not only lost their negative character, but also quickly turned into a neutral tinted experience.

Such results seemed at least exaggerated. After all, it is well known that the processing of psychological trauma requires a long, sometimes extended for years, psychotherapy. (I can confirm this as a practicing psychologist and a Gestalt therapist with experience).
But the first clinical study conducted by Francine Shapiro on the effect of eye movements showed a significant reduction in symptoms of trauma in a group of survivors of sexual violence, as well as among war veterans in Vietnam. Similar results were obtained in subsequent numerous studies.
How does EMDR therapy work?
Naturally, everyone was interested in how the simple eye movements allow a person to recover amazingly quickly from the effects of stress and psychological trauma? And what prevented this from being achieved in other areas of psychotherapy?
As you know, in the brain, it first “settles”, and then a kind of “digestion” passes through almost any information perceived by a person. The basis of this is a very complex physiological mechanism for the formation of nerve connections between brain cells - neurons.
When a person lives through a traumatic event, distress, information about this is also stored in the brain, undergoes processing and turns into a life experience.
Example. There was a nuisance with us - say, a humiliating situation at work arose. We are worried about this: we think about what happened, we talk about it, we dream about it. Over time, anxiety decreases, we gain experience: we begin to better understand what is happening, learn new things about ourselves and others, and also gain the ability to more effectively deal with similar situations in the future.

But annoyance! The mentioned processing of the negative may not occur. The most common reasons for this are:
- a traumatic event occurs in childhood, when the brain does not have enough resources for successful processing;
- traumatic event is recurring;
- traumatic event is too painful for the body.
And the brain, for the sake of maintaining mental health, can "go to extremes": push the negative information to hell, refusing to process it.
Yes, this allows you to survive at the time of distress. But a side effect is also present in the form of constant excitation of certain parts of the brain (see. Figure). From here come nightmares, painful memories, or obsessive thoughts — common symptoms of PTSD. I am silent about how a person feels in situations that have at least some similarities with the situation of injury!
Any psychotherapy is aimed at helping a person:
a) "get" the existing negative from the unconscious;
b) recycle it.
But the brain “hid” it all for the sake of its own entertainment. Therefore, the client often has to deal with the so-called "resistance": the unwillingness of the brain to stir up unpleasant experiences.
In this regard, the traditional areas of psychotherapy: psychoanalysis, gestalt therapy, etc. resemble the treatment of a dentist without anesthesia: recovery is possible, but the patient will have to “tolerate” a lot. Taking medications (without psychological study) is like anesthesia, but without the treatment itself.

In EMDR therapy, these shortcomings are minimized. DPDG provides sufficient desensitization (decrease in sensitivity), as a result of which the brain ceases to be “afraid” of restarting the innate mechanism by recyclable stressful, traumatic information.
And then trauma-related information with each series of eye movements begins accelerated manner move along neurophysiological paths until its painless awareness and “dissolution” is achieved - integration with already existing positive information. As a result, the memory of the events remains, but the mental health disorder is neutralized.
Benefits of EMDR Therapy
The main advantages of DPDH include the short-term achievement of the results of psychotherapy and their stability. Please review some of the results of recent clinical trials:
- EMDR allows you to get rid of the symptoms of PTSD (a single traumatic event) for 77% of patients in 3-6 sessions;
- for victims of recurring injuries (war veterans) EMDR can help for 12 or more sessions;
- many patients returned to symptomatology after taking the popular Prozac antidepressant, while patients after EMDR remain stable;
- etc.
Perhaps some more facts will seem interesting to you:
- The National Mental Health Council (Israel) recommends EMDR (and 2 more methods) for treating victims of terrorism (2002);
- The American Psychiatric Association recommends EMDR as an effective treatment for psychiatric trauma (2004);
- The Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans of the USA ranked DPDH as the highest category for the treatment of intense trauma (2004);
- Among all psychotherapeutic methods, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Great Britain) recognized only KBT and EMDR as empirically proven for the treatment of adults suffering from PTSD (2005).
Indications for DPG
Currently, EMDR-therapy is successfully used in working with various psychological problems:
- self-doubt, increased anxiety, depression, phobias and panic attacks, sexual disorders, eating disorders;
- experiencing acute grief associated with the loss or illness of a loved one, separation;
- dissociative disorders;
- fears in children;
- PTSD in victims of attacks, disasters and fires;
- and much more.
Conclusion
I don’t know whether to be happy or upset, but EMDR therapy is not suitable for all who apply. With every third client I work only in line with the good old gestalt.
Nevertheless, when the EMDR method is applicable, I never cease to be surprised (as in that distant 2008, when I first experienced its effect on myself).
No, nothing supernatural happens, everything is “as usual”. The client goes through the same regular phases of treatment as, say, in gestalt therapy. It is surprising only to observe the change of these phases during one session, and not several months.
And what do you choose: psychotherapy lasting 10-20 sessions or therapy lasting 10-20 months? Probably the first. Especially if they prove to you that the probability of achieving your goals is very high.
Maybe that's why, despite the abundance of various psychotherapeutic schools, EMDR-therapy still managed to take its rightful place in the world of psychology.
Description of the EMDR Method
You can conduct a session yourself.
“The DPDG technique is based on random observation that was made in May 1987. Once, while walking in the park, I noticed that some of the thoughts that bothered me suddenly disappeared. I also noted that if you recall these thoughts in your mind, they they no longer have such a negative effect and do not seem as real as before.
My previous experience told me that all disturbing thoughts tend to form a kind of vicious circle - appearing, they tend to come back again and again until you make a conscious effort to suspend them or change their character. However, on this day my attention was drawn to the fact that the thoughts that bothered me disappeared and changed their character without any conscious effort on my part.
Amazed by this, I began to pay close attention to everything that was happening. I noted that when disturbing thoughts arose, my eyes spontaneously began to move quickly from side to side and up and down diagonally.
Then the thoughts that bothered me disappeared, and when I deliberately tried to recall them, the negative charge inherent in these thoughts turned out to be significantly reduced.
Noticing this, I began to make eye movements intentionally, concentrating on various unpleasant thoughts and memories. I noticed that all these thoughts also disappeared and lost their negative emotional coloring.
Realizing all the potential benefits of this effect, I became very excited.
A few days later I tried to apply my discovery to other people: friends, colleagues, and participants in the psychological seminars that I attended at that time. They had a large number of the most diverse complaints of a non-pathological nature, as well as, probably, all people.
When I asked, “What would you like to work on?” People usually talked about their current memories, ideas or situations. Moreover, their complaints ranged from a wide range of humiliations in early childhood to the grievances currently undergoing.
Then I showed them how to quickly move my eyes from side to side, offering to repeat these movements after me, focusing on my problems.
First of all, I found that most people do not have arbitrary control of the muscles responsible for eye movements, and cannot continue these movements for an unlimited time.
Intending to continue my research, I suggested that my friends follow my eyes with the movements of my finger, moving my hand from side to side, so that my eyes would move at about the same speed and in the same direction as during my first experiment in the park.
This method turned out to be much more effective, but I noticed that although after such a procedure people began to feel clearly better, they continued to be fixed on the problems that bothered them. To overcome this fixation, I tried to apply different types of eye movements (faster, slower, in different directions), offering to focus on different things - for example, on various aspects of my memories or what feelings are associated with these memories.
Then I began to study what forms of work can give the best result, developing standard methods for starting and ending eye movement sessions that give the greatest positive effect.
After about six months, I developed a standard procedure that clearly led to fewer complaints. Since my attention from the very beginning was focused on the problem of reducing anxiety (as it was in my own experience), and my theoretical orientation at that time was primarily related to the behavioral approach, I called my procedure Desensitization with eye movements (DD).
Fragment of a DPDG session
The client’s name is Eric, he is 39 years old, he is a programmer.
Psychotherapist: Let's start with the fact that you imagine the face of a person whom you consider an incompetent employee. Look at this face and feel how incompetent it is. How would you rate his incompetence, from 0 to 10 points?
Eric: Seven points.
[The client imagines the employee’s face and gives an initial assessment of his incompetence of seven points on the scale of subjective units of concern.]
Psychotherapist: Focus on this feeling and watch my finger for the eyes (the client, under the supervision of a psychotherapist, makes a series of eye movements). Good. Now do not think about it; inhale and exhale. What do you feel now?
Eric: I dont know. I think I feel a little better. Before I came here, I worked out some things, and finally today I realized on an intellectual level ... This is work ... you know, I do not fit into the schedule, other people are unhappy, but ... it always happens ... I mean, in the computer business, someone is always late. So I started to make some connections with all this ...
[This is the first channel of information that opened during the DPDG session. The therapist then decides to return to the original goal.]
Psychotherapist: Good. If you again remember the face of the employee, how would you now determine the degree of his incompetence, from 0 to 10 points?
Eric: I think five points.
Psychotherapist: Hold this image (holds the next series of eye movements for the client). Good. Now forget about it, take a breath and exhale. What is happening now?
[As we will see, the new channel was opened precisely because the customer returned in their original purpose. The second channel points to a chain of associative material linked by the idea of \u200b\u200b“personal acceptance.”]
Eric: I realized that my frustration is partly connected with a difficult relationship with a chef who is not able to appreciate the abilities of other people. I think that I feel all this a little better than others. But, it seems to me, everyone would need to understand this. And until my boss recognizes my abilities, I will return again and again to the need for a sense of my own competence, as well as to the need for other people to acknowledge my competence.
Psychotherapist: Think about all this (conducts the following series of eye movements). Good. Now forget about all this, take a breath and exhale. How would you rate what you feel now?
Eric: Probably four or three points. Gradually, the realization comes to me that I do not really need acceptance from other people. After all, I am accepted by those who are significant to me. But my boss is also one of these significant people, and on his part I just don’t feel the acceptance. Although this is essentially his problem, not mine (laughs).
[At this point, a therapist using traditional approaches may be tempted to start a discussion with the client about how to help him change his relationship system. However, in the case of DPDH this is contraindicated.
The therapist needs to offer the client to keep in consciousness everything that he has just said, and then conduct another series of eye movements for him to stimulate further processing. After that, the client will offer a new version of what is happening to him. As we will see, the client will reach a new “plateau” and the information will take on a more adaptive form.]
Psychotherapist: Good. Think about it (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Good. Now forget about it, take a breath and exhale. What is going on with you?
Eric: I suppose it’s enough to accept him. I don’t need anymore. I understand that my boss needs me now, so I won’t be left without work. It suits me.
Psychotherapist: Good. Think about it (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Now forget about everything and breathe deeply. What do you feel now?
Eric: It seems to me ... that in a couple of months the pressure of the whole situation related to the work on the completion of the project will ease, and he will clearly see ...
Psychotherapist: Good. Keep all this in mind (holds the next series of eye movements for the client). Good. Now forget about everything, take a breath and exhale. What is going on with you?
Eric: About the same.
[When the client does not notice any changes, while feeling relatively comfortable, the therapist can conclude that the patient has completely “cleared” this second channel and that it is necessary to return it to its original purpose again.]
Psychotherapist: Good. And what happens if you again return to the image of a person whom you perceive as incompetent? What do you feel now?
Eric: He is bothering me. I know that in the future I may again feel frustration because of this face, but I think that it will not be so strong anymore.
[Note that although the client’s level of anxiety has decreased, it has not completely disappeared. Over the next series of eye movements, the processing process stimulated information associatively hidden in the third channel. Here we find the influence of traumatic material related to the Vietnam War: if someone in Vietnam was incompetent, it meant that such people would die.]
Psychotherapist: And now again imagine his face and feel incompetence (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Good. Now forget about all this, take a breath and exhale. What do you feel?
Eric: I realized that in this case, the stakes are, in general, not so high. I understand that I am right, but he is simply incompetent in this area, trying to get into his own business and spoils everything ... (laughs). I think that all this can be viewed from the other side ...
Psychotherapist: Indeed, you are right. Keep this in mind (conducts another series of eye movements). Good. Now forget about all this, take a breath and exhale. What are you feeling right now?
Eric: Oh, it’s so nice to know ... it’s so nice to think that the stakes are, in fact, not so high and that all these relationships are like several computers connected to each other ... and that as a result of all this, no one will die from the fact that you you can’t look at what is happening from the other side ...
Psychotherapist: Go back to this picture. What do you feel?
Eric: Comic of all this!
[Since the two previous types of reactions were the same and the client felt relatively comfortable, the third channel could also be considered cleaned. After that, the original target was called again. Now it becomes apparent that the client’s reaction to an incompetent employee has become completely different. Only after release from the psychological pressure of the traumatic experience associated with Vietnam, the client began to react to what was happening more calmly.]
Psychotherapist: Yes.
Eric: I realized that this employee is generally a great guy. Very capable. And when I look at the mistakes he makes, they seem funny and funny to me - we all made such mistakes at first, trying to do such a job. You know how it happens when a problem arises and you solve a small part of it. The problem can be huge, but you boldly dig: “The problem is huge? Nothing, I can! ”, Because in reality you saw only a piece of it (laughs). And since you were very inspired to discover this piece, you decide that this is the whole problem ... Other people can see it all just as clearly, and often they manage to deal with such things better. All this is quite funny ... You know: “What do you want from him at his level?”. It’s just that others tolerate it easier, but they all understand it, and when a person believes that he can solve everything in the world, this is a kind of cunning and deception of himself.
Psychotherapist: Good. Think about it (conducts another series of eye movements for the client). Now erase it all, take a breath and exhale. What are you feeling right now?
Eric: About the same.
Psychotherapist: Perfectly.
Eric: Yes, I feel good. It turns out that it’s so nice not to feel any more frustration, not to feel anger, as I had last week. Then everything fell upon me, and I felt my complete powerlessness. Tried to get out, but couldn't. "
P.S. You can move your fingers independently to the right to the left in front of the eyes, while presenting a traumatic situation.

(Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, EMDR) was developed by an American Francine Shapiro and is very successfully used in the treatment of PTSD. In 1987, during a walk, she noticed that eye movements reduce stressful memories.

The method is based on the idea that any traumatic information is unconsciously processed and absorbed by the brain during sleep - at rEM sleep phase (other names: sleep phase with rapid eye movements, BDG-sleep, REM phase from - rapid eye movement). It is in this phase of sleep that we see dreams. Severe psycho-injuries violate the natural process of information processing, which leads to recurring nightmares with awakenings and, of course, to distortions of BDG-sleep. Treatment with repeated series of eye movements unlocks and speeds up the processing of traumatic experiences.

From 1-2 to 6-16 treatment sessions are carried out lasting 1-1.5 hours. The average frequency is 1-2 times a week.

Standard desensitization and processing procedure eye movements contains 8 stages.

1) Safety rating

Psychotherapist analyzes the entire clinical picture and identifies treatment goals. You can use the DPDH method only in those patients who are able to cope with a possible high level of anxiety during the session. For this reason, the therapist first helps to cope with current problems and only then takes on long-standing psycho-injuries. In the end, the future is also worked out by creating and fixing in the patient’s imagination “ positive example»Behavior.

At this stage, patients also trained to reduce stress via:

imagination safe place,
technicians light flux (representation of a healing ray of light that penetrates the body)
self using eye movements or neuromuscular relaxation.

2) Training

Set productive trust with the patient, explain the essence of the method of desensitization and processing with eye movements. Find out what types of eye movements of the proposed are the most comfortable for the patient. The appearance of pain in the eyes when performing movements requires an immediate cessation of treatment with the advice of an ophthalmologist to find out possible contraindications to loads on the oculomotor muscles.

For testing the therapist shows 2 touching fingers of his hand at a distance of 30-35 cm from the patient’s face, and then with gradual acceleration moves his fingers left and right to the edge of the visual field. They select the optimal distance to the fingers, the height of the hand, the speed of movement (maximum required, but without discomfort). If the patient is unable to keep track of the fingers or a malfunction occurs (stopping, involuntary eye movements), it is usually enough for the patient to put his fingers on the closed eyes. Check the effectiveness of other eye movements - in a circle, diagonal, figure eight. Vertical eye movements (up and down) soothe and reduce anxiety, suppress dizziness and nausea.

One eye movement is a full round trip. In the technique of desensitization and processing with eye movements 24-movement series, the number of which can be increased to 36 or more.

If eye movements are impossible or uncomfortable, use alternative stimulation methods:

alternately tapping on the knees of the patient lying on their knees and turned upwards,
alternately finger snapping near the ears.

To reduce anxiety, the patient is trained safe Place technique. It is proposed to recall a calm place where he felt completely safe, and focus on this image. The image is enhanced by the suggestion of the therapist, as well as 4-6 series of eye movements. In the future, if necessary, the patient may independently return to your imagination to a safe place.

They also explain to the patient that he can interrupt the procedure at any timeby raising your hand or giving another conditional signal. This serves as an additional factor in patient safety.

3) Definition of subject

Therapist determines impact target. In PTSD, the goals of exposure can be a traumatic event, nightmares, and other experiences.

After choosing the goal of exposure, the patient is offered choose an image that reflects the unpleasant part itself traumatic event and then asked to express words painful self-image (in the present tense and on its own behalf), for example: " i'm a jerk», « i was doing something bad», « i can't trust myself», « i don't deserve respect" and etc.

Next, you need to determine positive view - what the patient wants to be at the moment when he recalls the traumatic situation: “ i am good as i am», « i can trust myself», « i control myself», « i did the best I could», « i can handle it". This positive view is used later, at the 5th stage (installation). Positive self-presentation facilitates the correct reassessment of events and contributes to a more adequate attitude towards them. The patient is invited to intuitively evaluate the adequacy of such a self-presentation by a 7-point (SHSP). If you get 1 (minimum) point, meaning " complete Mismatch to true self-image”, The therapist must weigh the realism of the patient’s wishes.

After that, the patient calls out loud negative emotionsthat arise when he focuses on psychological trauma and painful self-image, and also estimates the level of anxiety by Subjective Anxiety Scale (SHS) from 0 (complete rest) to 10 points (maximum anxiety).

4) Desensitization

The goal is to reduce patient anxiety.

At this stage, the patient should follow your eyes for finger movements psychotherapist, at the same time recalling the most unpleasant part of the traumatic event and at the same time repeating to himself (not aloud) painful ideas like " i'm a jerk», « i was doing something bad". After each series of eye movements, the patient is told: " Now rest. Inhale and exhale. Let it go, how it goes". Then they ask if there are any changes in visual images, thoughts, emotions and physical sensations (these are indicators of the internal processing of psychological trauma).

Typically, the alternation of such a series of eye movements with relaxation leads to a decrease in emotional and physical stress, and memories become more comfortable. The goal of the desensitization stage is to reduce the patient's anxiety level during the memory of psychotrauma to a minimum level of 0 or 1 point on the FSB (Subjective Anxiety Scale).

In the process of treatment by desensitization and processing with eye movements, it is possible short-term intensification of negative emotions or response (abreaction) However, the reaction occurs a little differently than with hypnosisbecause the patient persists dual focus (on psychological trauma and on a sense of security in the present) as opposed to complete immersion in hypnosis. During a DPDG session, regression occurs 4-5 times faster than trance. If the response has begun, the therapist increases the number of eye movements to 36 or more, so that, if possible, complete the response during the current series.

If after 2 consecutive series of eye movements the patient does not feel any changes in thoughts and emotions, it is necessary change the direction of eye movements. The inefficiency of changing 2-3 directions of eye movement indicates a blocked processing (additional strategies.

Additional strategies for blocked processing:

1) Change of direction, duration, speed or range eye movements. It’s best to combine these techniques.

2) During the selection of eye movements, the patient is asked focus only on sensations in the body (without the image of psychological trauma and positive self-presentation).

3) Stimulation of the patient openly express repressed emotions and move freely. In parallel, eye movements are performed.

4) Pressure by the patient (finger, hand) in the place of discomfortAt the same time, negative feelings decrease or associative images appear, which are affected in the future.

5) Focusing on another aspect of the event (think of another way of psychological trauma, change the brightness of the presentation, repaint it in black and white). Or concentrate on the most disturbing sound stimulus.

6) Cognitive interweaving - combine the thoughts and feelings of the patient with supporting information of the therapist. Various cognitive interweaving options are possible:

therapist explains to the patient correct understanding of past events and his roles. The patient thinks about what was said during a series of eye movements.
redefinition of the traumatic situation through treatment of persons significant to the patient. For example, the participant in the hostilities felt guilty for the fact that his best friend in the battle did not follow the commander’s order to duck and was killed, while the patient himself was ducked and survived. The psychotherapist advised to think about what the patient would have ordered if the patient’s 16-year-old son was in place of a friend. After the answer “to bend down!” And a series of eye movements, guilt decreased significantly, and the study of the situation was completed.
using suitable analogies (metaphors) in the form of parables, stories or life examples. The therapist draws parallels with the patient’s situation and gives hidden clues to resolve the problem. This can be done both during a series of eye movements, and before her with a proposal to ponder during the series.
socratic dialogue (named after the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates). During the conversation, the therapist consistently asks questions, leading the patient to a specific logical conclusion. After a suggestion, a series of eye movements is performed.

During the processing of the main psychotrauma in the patient’s mind, they may emerge additional negative memories. They should be made subject to focus on the next series of eye movements. During the treatment of PTSD, all associative material (combat episodes, memories, sounds, sensations, etc.) needs to be processed by combatants.

When all associations are reworked, you should return to the initial goal (psychotrauma) to perform additional series of eye movements. If within 2-3 episodes no new memories appear, and the level of anxiety in the SHS is not higher than 1 point out of 10 (ideally 0 points), then they proceed to the next (5th) stage - installation.

5) Installation

The goal is to increase and consolidate the patient’s self-esteem by associating a positive self-image with psychological trauma.

After desensitization (stage 4), the patient is asked to recall his positive view (as he wanted to see himself in stage 3) and ask if it is suitable now. Many patients specify or even change their meaning of self-representation.

Then the patient is offered think about trauma given the voiced positive self-image and answer how it corresponds to the truth. The patient is asked to recall the trauma from a position of a positive picture of himself, while the therapist conducts the number of eye movements necessary to consolidate the effect.

If consolidation was crowned with complete success (7 points for a subjective 7-point Representation Compliance Scale), then go to the stage of scanning the body (6th stage). If, due to incomplete processing of additional memories and negative beliefs, the desired (maximum) level of consolidation cannot be achieved, then the treatment of DPDH is postponed to the next session, and this is completed (stage 7 - completion).

6) Body scan

The goal is to eliminate residual discomfort in the body.

If fixing at the installation stage was successful (6-7 points on a subjective 7-point scale), a scan is performed. The patient is asked to close his eyes and, imagining a trauma and a positive self-presentation, mentally walk through all parts of your body from head to toe.

It is necessary to report all places of discomfort or unusual sensations. If discomfort is found somewhere, it is worked out using a new series of eye movements. If there are no sensations at all, then a series of eye movements is performed. When a pleasant sensation occurs, they are enhanced by an additional series of DPDG. Sometimes you have to go back several stages to work out new surfaced negative memories.

7) Completion

The goal is to achieve the patient's emotional balance, regardless of the completeness of processing trauma.

For this, the therapist uses hypnosis or the Safe Place technique (described in stage 2). If the processing is not completed, then after the session, an unconscious continuation of the processing is likely. In such cases, the patient is advised to write down (remember) his thoughts, memories, and dreams disturbing him. They can become new targets for exposure in DPDG sessions.

8〉 Revaluation

The goal is to check the effect of a previous treatment session.

Reevaluation is carried out before each new desensitization and processing session with eye movements. Therapist evaluates patient response to previously redesigned goals. Recycling new goals is possible only after the complete processing and assimilation of the previous ones.

Features of the DPDG method in the treatment of combatants

Many veterans of military conflicts suffer from excruciating feelings of self-accusation in connection with their actions during the hostilities. Need to explain to the patient:

if the patient was really such a bad person, as he believes, then would not suffer so much. Conscience has not tormented bad people for decades.
suffering already not help the deadbut they’ll hinder the survivors from living fully.
the painful symptoms of PTSD are the result of retention of psychotrauma in the neural networks of the brain, and treatment will help get rid of the "stuck" negative. It is important to note that the acquired combat experience will be remembered, because the treatment is aimed only at getting rid of suffering and feelings, and not at the loss of memory for military events. Treatment will help to live a more fulfilling life, will give more opportunities to honor the memory of the dead and help former colleagues in difficult times.

Besides self-incrimination, a big problem is outbursts of uncontrollable anger. They can lead to family breakdowns and legal problems. Treatment with a psychotherapist will help to better control your behavior. Additionally patients are trained:

safe Place technique
relaxation exercises
independent use of eye movements to calm.

Treatment of patients with PTSD using the DPDH method is highly effective and can completely eliminate unpleasant symptoms. Perhaps a combination of DPDH with other psychotherapeutic techniques, as well as with drugs.

The use of the DPDH method in the treatment of sexual disorders

Minimum 11% former war veterans need sexological help. In the presence of PTSD, this level is even higher, but most of them, for various reasons, do not contact a sexologist. Most common following problems:

anxious expectation of sexual failure (psychogenic erectile dysfunction),
consequences of alcohol abuse
problems in relationships with people due to symptoms of PTSD.

Amid sexual failures in such people jealousy, but outbursts of anger becoming more destructive and unpredictable. Based on the foregoing, treatment of sexual disorders should be included in the rehabilitation program for people with PTSD, which will allow them to increase self-esteem, achieve psychological comfort and harmonize relationships in marriage.

You can help patients who:

can't forget their failures in bed
received negative information about their potency,
have false beliefs about sexuality,
remember any events that cause anxiety and fear of sexual intercourse.

Conducted 2-6 sessions with a frequency of 1-2 per week. The duration of each 1-1.5 hours.