About

Bilateral stimulation, also called dual-attention stimulation, is the core mechanism by which EMDR works. It involves taxing your brain's working memory-- the part it uses to problem solve or retain short-term pieces of information-- to distract your nervous system just enough so that painful memories don't feel so painful. This allows us to explore, process, and ultimately say goodbye to haunting negative beliefs. 

EMDR was originally developed using eye movements to create this dual-attention stimulation. That's where it gets its name "Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing." 

EMDR's developer, Dr. Francine Shapiro, later expressed regret at including eye-movement in the name of the therapy because that is NOT the only effective way to tax working memory. 

EMDR is frequently done with eye-movements, tapping, bright lights, or sounds.