History of EMDR

EMDR is one of the most researched and recognized psychotherapy methods in the world. Its history is a story of how a chance observation turned into a scientifically validated method that has saved millions of lives. Below is the full timeline: from a walk in the park to global recognition.

1. The Accidental Discovery (1987)

This observation became the starting point. Shapiro was no ordinary bystander — by that time she already had a master's degree in psychology and was working on her doctoral dissertation. Her analytical mind wouldn't let her dismiss this strange phenomenon.

Intrigued, she began experimenting: first on herself, then on acquaintances and colleagues. She asked people to think about disturbing memories while following her fingers with their eyes as they moved from side to side. The results were astonishing: anxiety decreased, and memories lost their painful charge.

Why Eye Movements?

Shapiro hypothesized that rhythmic eye movements somehow activate the brain's natural information processing mechanism — the same one that operates during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Later neurobiological research confirmed this hypothesis: bilateral stimulation indeed activates the same brain regions as REM sleep.

2. The First Study (1989)

In 1988, Shapiro conducted the first controlled study with 22 participants suffering from PTSD — Vietnam War veterans and survivors of sexual assault. The results were published in 1989 in the Journal of Traumatic Stress and caused a sensation.

Parameter	Result
Participants	22 people with PTSD
Method	One 50-minute EMD session (at that time without the "R" — Reprocessing phase)
Outcome	Significant reduction in PTSD symptoms for most participants
Durability	Effect maintained at 3-month follow-up

3. Evolution: From EMD to EMDR (1990–1995)

Initially, the method was simply called EMD — Eye Movement Desensitization. It was assumed that eye movements merely reduced the anxiety associated with a memory. But clinical practice revealed something more.

Discovery of the Reprocessing Phase

While working with clients, Shapiro and her colleagues noticed that during sessions, more than just anxiety reduction was happening — memories were spontaneously being reprocessed . Clients began to see situations differently; new, more adaptive thoughts and beliefs emerged. In 1991, the method was renamed EMDR — adding the letter "R": Reprocessing.

The AIP Model

In 1995, Shapiro formulated the theoretical foundation of the method — the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model . According to this model:

• The brain has an innate information processing system that operates during REM sleep
• Traumatic events can "overload" this system, leaving memories unprocessed
• Unprocessed memories are stored in "raw" form — with the same emotions, body sensations, and beliefs as at the time of trauma
• Bilateral stimulation activates the processing system, allowing the brain to "finish" what was left incomplete

Standardization: The 8-Phase Protocol

By 1995, the 8-phase EMDR protocol was developed and standardized, still in use today:

Phase	Name	Content
1	History Taking	Assessment of client readiness, identification of targets for reprocessing
2	Preparation	Teaching self-regulation techniques, creating a "safe place"
3	Assessment	Selecting a specific memory, identifying negative and positive beliefs
4	Desensitization	Reprocessing the memory using BLS
5	Installation	Strengthening the positive belief
6	Body Scan	Checking for residual physical tension
7	Closure	Returning to a stable state
8	Reevaluation	Checking the stability of results at the next session

4. Humanitarian Projects (1995–2000)

From the mid-1990s, EMDR began to be applied in areas of mass disaster and military conflict. In 1995, the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs (EMDR-HAP) was created — a nonprofit organization training local specialists and providing assistance to survivors.

Year	Event	EMDR Application
1995	Oklahoma City bombing	First large-scale application of EMDR in a man-made disaster. Assistance to survivors and first responders
1999	Earthquake in Turkey	Training Turkish psychologists and helping thousands of survivors
2001	September 11, New York	Mass application of EMDR to help survivors, first responders, and city residents
2004	Tsunami in Southeast Asia	EMDR-HAP deployed programs in Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka

5. Global Recognition (2004–2013)

APA Recognition (2004)

In 2004, the American Psychological Association (APA) — one of the most authoritative organizations in psychology — included EMDR in its list of empirically supported treatments for PTSD. This was a turning point: the scientific community's skepticism began to give way to recognition.

WHO Recognition (2013)

In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recommended EMDR as a first-line treatment for PTSD in adults, adolescents, and children. In the WHO guidelines, EMDR stands alongside trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT).

Other Recognitions

Organization	Year	Status
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)	2000s	Recommended for PTSD treatment
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, UK)	2005	Recommended for PTSD treatment
U.S. Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs	2004	Included in clinical guidelines
Israel Ministry of Health	2000s	Recognized as an effective method
Russian Federation Ministry of Health	2010s	Recommendations for EMDR use

6. EMDR Today (2013 – present)

Today, EMDR is not just a method for treating PTSD. Its scope of application has expanded significantly, and neurobiological research has confirmed its mechanisms of action.

Expanding Indications

Current research confirms EMDR's effectiveness for:

• Depression — especially when depressive episodes have a traumatic origin
• Anxiety disorders — panic attacks, generalized anxiety, phobias
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Chronic pain — especially with a psychosomatic component
• Eating disorders
• Addictions — processing the traumatic roots of addiction
• Attachment disorders — relational trauma, early attachment disruptions

Neurobiology of EMDR

Modern research using fMRI and EEG has shown that bilateral stimulation during EMDR:

• Activates the same brain regions as REM sleep (thalamus, hippocampus, amygdala)
• Reduces amygdala activity (the brain's "fear center")
• Increases connectivity between the right and left hemispheres
• Facilitates the transition of memories from "hot" storage (emotional memory) to "cold" storage (narrative memory)

7. Francine Shapiro: Founder of the Method

Francine Shapiro (1948–2019) — American psychologist, founder of EMDR therapy. Her path to discovery was unusual: before becoming a psychologist, she earned a degree in English literature and worked as a teacher.

In 1979, she was diagnosed with cancer. It was her battle with cancer and the accompanying stress that led her to the accidental discovery in 1987. Shapiro later said that the illness "gave her the opportunity to notice something she would otherwise have missed."

After the discovery, Shapiro earned her PhD in clinical psychology and dedicated the rest of her life to developing, researching, and disseminating EMDR. She founded the EMDR Institute (1990) and EMDRIA (1995), wrote several books, and trained thousands of specialists worldwide.

Francine Shapiro passed away in June 2019, leaving behind a method that has changed millions of lives. Her work continues: today, EMDR therapists practice in more than 130 countries.

8. Timeline: Key Dates

Year	Event
1987	Francine Shapiro accidentally discovers the anxiety-reducing effect of eye movements
1989	First publication in the Journal of Traumatic Stress. First controlled study with 22 participants
1990	EMDR Institute founded. Systematic training of specialists begins
1991	Method renamed from EMD to EMDR — Reprocessing phase added
1995	EMDRIA founded. AIP model formulated. 8-phase protocol developed. Shapiro's first book published
1995	EMDR-HAP program created. First application — Oklahoma City bombing
1998	EMDR recognized as an effective PTSD treatment by the American Anxiety Disorders Association
2001	Mass application of EMDR after the September 11 attacks in New York
2004	APA includes EMDR in its list of empirically supported PTSD treatments
2005	NICE (UK) recommends EMDR for PTSD treatment
2013	WHO recommends EMDR as a first-line treatment for PTSD in adults and children
2019	Francine Shapiro passes away. The method is 32 years old
2020	COVID-19 pandemic. Mass transition of EMDR to online format. Research confirms the effectiveness of online EMDR
2025	EMDR practiced in 130+ countries. Over 100,000 accredited therapists. 40+ randomized controlled trials

9. See Also

• EMDR — full description of the method
• Encyclopedia Center for Scientific Psychology and EMDR Therapy
• Services — all center offerings
• Psychologists — specialists practicing EMDR
• FAQ — answers to common questions about EMDR