EMDR : The Breakthrough Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma [Hardcover]

Francine Shapiro (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 19, 1997

Hailed as the most important method to emerge in psychotherapy in decades, EMDR has successfully treated complex psychological illnesses and problems, from depression, phobias, and recurrent nightmares to post-traumatic stress disorder and long-standing grief, in more than one million sufferers worldwide and with a rapidity that almost defies belief. In this remarkable book, Francine Shapiro, the originator and developer of EMDR, explains how she created Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), how it works, and how it can help those who suffer from debilitating behaviors, anxiety, and stress.Describes a breakthrough therapy acclaimed by clinicians and supported by exhaustive research. Includes an extensive list of EMDR resources and directions for finding and choosing one of the more than 20,000 trained EMDR therapists in the United StatesFeatures case histories of people whose lives have been transformed through EMDR.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, is a new, nontraditional, very short-term therapy for treating trauma victims that utilizes rhythmical stimulation such as eye movements or hand taps. Shapiro, a clinical psychologist and fellow at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, Calif., who developed the approach, reports cases in which as few as three 90-minute EMDR sessions have relieved patients' disabling anxiety. Explaining how she developed the technique in 1987, Shapiro describes the treatment, theorizes about why it works and cites supporting research. She suggests that the rhythmical stimulation inherent in the process jump starts and accelerates the brain's information processing system to enable the victims to begin to process the traumatic experiences in which they have been stuck so that natural healing can begin. Writer Forrest presents gripping case studies from numerous EMDR-trained therapists to demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique?among others, a Vietnam veteran with post-traumatic stress, a child with night terrors, a rape victim and a mother still nearly paralyzed with grief a year after her son's death. Other studies report success helping drug addicts and the terminally ill.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a controversial method of psychotherapy used for treating posttraumatic stress syndrome and anxiety disorders. These two books provide an overview of EMDR for the general reader. Supporters claim that EMDR releases traumatic memories locked in the brain, accelerates recovery, and reduces stress; opponents point out that a neurological basis for this theory has yet to be established. These two new books on EMRR chiefly contain case histories and descriptions of the therapy; both warn against unauthorized use by therapists not trained by the EMDR Institute. Parnell, a clinical psychologist and senior EMDR Institute facilitator, claims a transcendent focus for EMDR, leading to "objective forgiveness" of oneself and the perpetrator of the trauma. Shapiro, who developed EMDR in 1989, documents research supporting EMDR, citing both controlled and uncontrolled studies and listing 12 populations where EMDR has been effectively used as a form of treatment. Both books are recommended for popular psychology collections, though Shapiro's book is the preferred choice for readers who may wish to follow up on EMDR research.?Lucille M. Boone, San Jose P.L. Cal.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books; 1st edition (March 19, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465043003
• ISBN-13: 978-0465043002
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #301,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Francine Shapiro, PhD, is an American psychologist who is the originator and developer of EMDR (acronym for 'Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing'), a form of psychotherapy that was developed to resolve symptoms resulting from traumatic and other disturbing life experiences. Based on the positive results of many rigorous scientific studies, EMDR therapy is now recommended as an effective treatment for trauma in numerous international practice guidelines, including those of the American Psychiatric Association and the Department of Defense.

Dr. Shapiro is a recipient of the International Sigmund Freud Award for distinguished contribution to psychotherapy presented by the City of Vienna in conjunction with with the World Council for Psychotherapy, the American Psychological Association Division of Trauma Psychology Award for Outstanding Contributions to Practice in Trauma Psychology, and the Distinguished Scientific Achievement in Psychology Award presented by the California Psychological Association.

Dr. Shapiro is a Senior Research Fellow at the Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto, California, Executive Director of the EMDR Institute, Watsonville, CA, and founder and President Emeritus of the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs, a non-profit organization that coordinates disaster response and pro bono trainings worldwide. This organization is a recipient of the 2011 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Sarah Haley Memorial Award for Clinical Excellence.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome Home with EMDR!, May 13, 2000

By 

d. e. dodson - See all my reviews

This review is from: EMDR: The Breakthrough "Eye Movement" Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma (Paperback)

As a Vietnam Veteran who fought for 28 years to deny any Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) lingering from my year there, EMDR has allowed me to finally come home! Whether it is war, crime, abuse, neglect, whatever; this book helps you recognize yourself and inspires great hope for overcoming your taumas. EMDR is not hypnosis nor the power of suggestion. It is truly a breakthrough, allowing the physical brain to unload the emotional terrors locked inside in an amazing way. EMDR will bring you home! Don't live another day carrying around whatever is locked inside of your brain. I commend this especially to my brothers and sisters who have spent half of their lives trying to un-live Vietnam. Peace be with you.

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Description of EMDR in action, April 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: EMDR: The Breakthrough "Eye Movement" Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma (Paperback)

This book gives a description of the evolution of EMDR, the eight phases of treatment, theories regarding possible underlying mechanisms, and controlled research. Most importantly, the book give extensive case descriptions with verbatim transcripts of EMDR sessions so that readers can see it in action. Chapters are devoted to the treatment of anxiety, trauma, phobias, depression, physical complaints, and a wide variety of fears and clinical conditions in children and adults. Through the detailed discussions and transcripts readers can see for themselves whether EMDR might be applicable to themselves or a loved one.

50 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stories of Healing, April 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: EMDR: The Breakthrough "Eye Movement" Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma (Paperback)

This book documents the healing journeys of numerous trauma survivors. Written for the general public, it provides an intimate view into the healing processes of persons treated with EMDR. Individual stories are written in narrative form, describing the experiences and symptoms of each person before, during, and after EMDR treatment. Therapy descriptions include transcripts of actual treatment sessions. Each chapter highlights recovery from a different type of disorder: combat related trauma, incest and child abuse, rape, phobias and panic attacks, sleep disorders and childhood trauma, attachment disorders, traumatic grief, addiction, and diagnosis of life-threatening illness. This book is very helpful for persons considering EMDR treatment as it explains the therapy process from the client's perspective.