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As the practice of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) approaches its third decade, it is helpful to reflect on the astonishing development of this psychological treatment model. Over these 20 years, EMDR has grown into an approach to psychotherapy that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma. This is, in part, due to the number of institutions and researchers that are validating the effi cacy of EMDR. In the United States, these include the American Psychological Association (APA, 2004; Chambless et al., 1998), the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (Chemtob, Tolin, van der Kolk, & Pitman, 2000; Foa, Keane, & Friedman, 2000), the National Institute of Mental Health Web site (Shapiro, 2004–2007), and the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense (2004). In Europe, EMDR is considered one of the treatments of choice for trauma victims by the Dutch National Steering Committee for Guidelines Mental Health Care (2003); the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM, 2004); The Clinical Resource Efficiency Support Team of the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (CREST, 2003); the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in England (NICE, 2005); and the United Kingdom Department of Health (2001). In the Middle East, the Israeli National Council for Mental Health (Bleich, Kotler, Kutz, & Shalev, 2002); has named EMDR as one of the methods recommended for the treatment of terror victims. EMDR is an important therapy for the treatment of trauma and is taught in many universities. It has also gained a great deal of respect in the therapeutic world for being a modality that is effective.
As a therapeutic approach, EMDR is on the same par as cognitive behavior therapy and psychodynamic therapy. It is composed of a complex methodology applicable to a wide range of disorders. As such, new procedures and protocols have been introduced to address a variety of issues. Whereas the EMDR procedures and original protocol for trauma (Shapiro, 1995, 2001, 2006) have been extensively researched, many of the protocols in this book are not yet validated by research.
Information concerning research will be mentioned in the body of the chapter as appropriate. The protocols are included because they have been reported in books and articles and at EMDR conferences worldwide to be of value to practicing clinicians as they work with their clients, and because they can serve as a stimulus and inspiration to other clinicians for research in the future.
(Marilyn Luber - Scripetd Protocols)