Re:EMDR and light box or machine in therapy

Steve,

Most EMDR therapists I know continue to use their hand. There are a variety of tools that can be used to assist with EMDR. The most common is the light bar, which is a rectangular array of lights (small green lights) approximately a yard long. The speed is individually controlled and you can change the direction (Horizontal, at an angle, etc.). The most recent light bar comes with an audio component and a set of ear phones that deliver a sound that matches the light in speed, etc. There is also a smaller lap top unit that the client can hold on their lap and the light moves across the screen in a variety of directions depending on the setting. None of these instruements are more than tools. They are simply designed to provide a visual target (in the case of the light bars) that makes eye movements easier. Among my patients the clear preference is for the light bar and audio used together. When I made the switch from my hand to the bar I asked each patient to evaluate the two and select what they were more comfortable with. Probably 75% selected the light bar, the remainder said there was no difference. No one preferrd the hand. When I switched to the light bar and audio combination, I did the same survey. At least 90% preferred the light bar and audio combination. When I got the lap scan, I did the same and found that almost 90% prefer the light bar and audio combination over the lap scan. So that is what I use. I am not aware of any books that directly address this question, so the above is my personal experience across the last several years. I think that the people who have the light bar have a web site (www.neurotek.com I think). EMDR gets no rebate on sales by this company so this is an independent evaluation.
Bob

Replies:

Re:EMDR and light box or machine in therapy, by Steve, 07/27/00

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