EMDR causes headache

• EMDR in practice by Greg Patrick, LCSW, 7/28/97
  
  

Francine, I have completed basic EMDR training and have begun using it with personal counselling clients. The first client had a very disturbing dream (with clear image, belief and feeling). Five sets of eye movements produced distinct image changes and then blackness. Changes in SUDS and VOC scales were very significant and the dream has not been a bother since, in fact if she deliberately tries to recall it it causes no disturbance at all. However following the session she had a bad headache for two days. I put this down to known eye problems and the probable need for eyesight correction. Could it also be an effect of the reprocessing which occurred? Have other clients experienced discomfort like this?

• Headaches in Therapy by Francine Shapiro, 8/13/97