Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR, developed in 1989 by Dr. Francine Shapiro, is a therapeutic technique helpful for clients with life patterns of emotional distress such as post-traumatic stress, performance anxiety, among other stressors. This approach utilizes a synchronized left-right hemisphere stimulation that helps clients de-synthesize anxiety, disturbing thoughts, and memories.

EMDR is a time-efficient, comprehensive methodology backed by positive controlled research for the treatment of the distressing experiences that underlie much pathology. Dr. Shapiro theorizes that its effects are connected to the same processes that occur in REM sleep. The eye movements seem to stimulate the client's innate information processing system to transform dysfunctional, self-denigrating thoughts into less threatening and more palatable information. Clients become more conscious and aware of how their emotional processing and healing occurs.

Since 1994, James Ochoa has used this technique as a certified EMDR therapist. He includes an educational approach about how the physiological process of emotional distress is processed in our neurology, belief systems and emotions. Understanding the natural way our physiology is set creates a new understanding and validation for emotional distress. Many clients find a greater sense of self-empowerment through EMDR.