EMDR - This treatment option is called Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing.
What is it?- Is a form of psychotherapy. The therapist trained in this therapeutic intervention uses rapid eye movement to help recondition an anxiety response. When a traumatic or distressing experience occurs - it may overwhelm your usual ways of coping and your memory of the event may not be processed by your brain in the same way that other memories are processed. In effect the memory is dysfunctionally stored in an isolated memory network. As a result you may find that certain memories of the trauma are relived following everyday events and situations. You may try to cope with these ‘flash backs’ and ‘waking nightmares’- for example by isolating yourself. You may experience a number of negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself.
EMDR integrates elements of effective psychodynamic, imaginal exposure, cognitive therapy, interpersonal, experiential, physiological and somatic therapies. It also uses the unique element of bilateral stimulation (e.g. eye movements, tones, or tapping). EMDR is very well researched and is an evidence based treatment for PTSD. However, it is also used by therapists for a number of other needs such as:
EMDR is successful in treating Phobias
EMDR is successful in treating Depression
And! Sports Performance
EMDR and Sports Performance
Effective sports performance is partly a result of managed internal and external factors.
EMDR can help the athlete to integrate and manage negative emotional states and unhelpful thoughts and beliefs.
Through the use of EMDR you also learn how to effectively manage external factors – learning to focus and to concentrate both mind and body on that goal.
Poor sports performance can be the result of a number of negative factors:
- You may have lost a match or game and your confidence is low.
- Perhaps experienced an injury and being held back by negative thoughts or worry.
- The negative emotions and thoughts get a hold of you before or during the event.
- If you have experienced a sports-related injury this can shake your confidence and reduce your performance.
EMDR treats the injury and associated memories as trauma and affectively helps you process these events of the mind that are holding you back and this means you can continue to sprint ahead and achieve all of those goals!
If you are finding that you are anxious and distracted when you need focus – perhaps you have an event or competition and you want that edge – then EMDR can help.
For further Info:
Bryan Dalgleish-Warburton has completed the 3 part training and continues to have clinical supervision in the use of EMDR. He is also a member of the EMDR Uk.
