Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was first developed in 1987 as a therapeutic approach for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

EMDR is based on the understanding that traumatic memories can remain unprocessed in the brain, continuing to cause emotional and physical distress long after the event has passed. When triggered, these memories may resurface in the form of intense emotions, negative thoughts, bodily sensations, or deeply held beliefs that originated during the trauma.

This form of therapy targets the traumatic memory directly, aiming to reprocess and integrate it in a more adaptive way. By altering how the memory is stored in the brain, EMDR helps reduce—or even eliminate—the symptoms associated with PTSD.