EMDR Forum Archive, 1999
Re: For Shapiro................inquiry. About: EMDR
Robert P. O'Brien, Ph.D. · 3/6/00 at 10:35 pm ET
Some information in response to your questions. It is clear that EMDR is not hypnosis. We know that because there is a clear pattern of electrical activity in the brain when the person is in a hypnotic trance. That is, there is a regular EEG pattern that is observed when the person being monitored is in a hypnotic trance. People who are expienced in reading EEG tracings can identify this trance state easily. When the same measures of electrical activity are taken on a person who is experiencing EMDR this pattern is not present. Indeed the pattern is the same as a normal awake EEG. Also, the experience of being in a trance is quite different from the experience of being involved in EMDR. I have experienced both and it is very different. The most common form of bilateral stimulation in EMDR is by using eye movements. The therapist might use their hand, a small pointer, a light bar, etc. But some form of eye movement is far more common than using the light bar. Most patients I know do not experience EMDR as controlling. Most are actually quite "freed" by the experience (at least that is their report). Some of course may feel controlled and in that case I would probably do something other than EMDR, at least in the beginning. Perhaps others on the list who have been clients might comment more on this experience. Bob
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