What Is EMDR Therapy? Past, Present, and Future Directions

Since its inception in 1989, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has evolved from a simple technique to treat posttraumatic stress disorder comprehensive psychotherapy approach that treats broad range of clinical problems variety contexts with diverse populations. This position paper is the result two-year project by Council Scholars’ “What EMDR?” workgroup was tasked particular challenge defining EMDR therapy, as innovations field continue develop need for consensus definition become essential. In addition proposing categories is, psychotherapy, treatment protocols, EMDR-derived techniques, we identified core elements can serve guideline evaluate future innovations. Additionally, concepts procedures evolving over years, some language needed revising be consistent current practices. The adoption these three community would have broad-reaching implications generate more qualitative well quantitative studies all categories. For training practice, it offers clinicians opportunity train focus on their setting foundational universal EMDR-trained clinicians. Finally, interplay Scholars between research, accreditation workgroups will lead further developments areas inform one another.