Don't Be Scared Away

I am speaking as a client who has been through EMDR and not a professional when I ask that you not be dismayed by what you have read here recently. I have found the debate interesting but it has not changed my feeling about EMDR. I have seen the results first hand and I know it works. I do not care if it can be explained in the eyes of science or if it can stand up to all the test that anyone wants to put it through. The fact is that it worked for me.

Sure I was skeptical and scared initially. I laughed when I was told I had to find a safe place. I was sure my therapist came from Mars. However CBT, "talk therapy" and other therapeutic approaches did not work for me. I did my own personal research on the pros and cons and decided that it was worth a try. I had nothing to lose but my life to gain. And that is actually what happened.

I could write volumes on how EMDR has helped me heal from an abusive past but I am sure it would be criticized by many who have posted on this board recently. The fact is that EMDR did work for me!

The key to EMDR is finding a trust worthy, fully trained therapist and that as you have stated can be the hardest part. Once that person is found then establishing trust and your safe place is a definite must. What they safe place did for me was give me the confidence that I could handle any situation that came up on my own. Initially I was calling my therapist often now I rarely do. My life is back in my hands.

The wonder with EMDR IMHO is that it puts the healing in my hands. I controlled my destiny and because of that my healing is not temporary and as the old saying goes "I will continue to grow in grace and beauty."

EMDR is not for everyone as CBT is not for everyone. Let the scientific debate continue but when the dust has settled that fact remains that EMDR does work for some people and that CBT also works for some people. To all lay person following this debate read carefully what you feel you must but if you want to see beyond the science to a living example EMDR here I am!

Replies:

Re: Don't Be Scared Away, by Deb K, 2/18/00 Re: Don't Be Scared Away, by , 2/19/00 Re: Don't Be Scared Away, by Sandra Paulsen, Ph.D., 2/19/00 Re: Don't Be Scared Away, by Shapiro, 2/22/00

| Behavior OnLine Home Page | Disclaimer |

Copyright © 1996-2004 Behavior OnLine, Inc. All rights reserved.