From Publishers Weekly
EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, is a new, nontraditional, very short-term therapy for treating trauma victims that utilizes rhythmical stimulation such as eye movements or hand taps. Shapiro, a clinical psychologist and fellow at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, Calif., who developed the approach, reports cases in which as few as three 90-minute EMDR sessions have relieved patients' disabling anxiety. Explaining how she developed the technique in 1987, Shapiro describes the treatment, theorizes about why it works and cites supporting research. She suggests that the rhythmical stimulation inherent in the process jump starts and accelerates the brain's information processing system to enable the victims to begin to process the traumatic experiences in which they have been stuck so that natural healing can begin. Writer Forrest presents gripping case studies from numerous EMDR-trained therapists to demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique?among others, a Vietnam veteran with post-traumatic stress, a child with night terrors, a rape victim and a mother still nearly paralyzed with grief a year after her son's death. Other studies report success helping drug addicts and the terminally ill. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a controversial method of psychotherapy used for treating posttraumatic stress syndrome and anxiety disorders. These two books provide an overview of EMDR for the general reader. Supporters claim that EMDR releases traumatic memories locked in the brain, accelerates recovery, and reduces stress; opponents point out that a neurological basis for this theory has yet to be established. These two new books on EMRR chiefly contain case histories and descriptions of the therapy; both warn against unauthorized use by therapists not trained by the EMDR Institute. Parnell, a clinical psychologist and senior EMDR Institute facilitator, claims a transcendent focus for EMDR, leading to "objective forgiveness" of oneself and the perpetrator of the trauma. Shapiro, who developed EMDR in 1989, documents research supporting EMDR, citing both controlled and uncontrolled studies and listing 12 populations where EMDR has been effectively used as a form of treatment. Both books are recommended for popular psychology collections, though Shapiro's book is the preferred choice for readers who may wish to follow up on EMDR research.?Lucille M. Boone, San Jose P.L. Cal.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a hot psychotherapy topic these days, so many will be interested in what Shapiro, the therapist who discovered it, has to say. The process is based on the movement of a patient's eyes following the therapist's hand as the patient focuses on a major or minor disturbing event but consists, overall, of eight parts: the treatment plan, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. EMDR works much faster than the oral psychotherapeutic method, and the patient therefore pays less and gets back to business sooner. It has reportedly freed many from the effects of such experiences as child abuse, rape, natural disasters, and accidents. Shapiro does not know how it works but offers several theories. In any event, EMDR is available from some 20,000 therapists who have studied its basics. Shapiro concludes with advice on finding one of the 20,000. William Beatty


David A. Console, M.D., The Menninger Clinic
"Well-written, fascinating...a delight to read.... Francine Shapiro has made a profound contribution to our knowledge of illness and healing."


San Francisco Chronicle
"Shapiro's case studies are especially convincing in the wealth of research and the immediacy of each narrative."


Edward Hallowell, M.D.
"Informative and engaging..."



"A well-written, fascinating book that is a delight to read. With the development of EMDR, Francine Shapiro has made a profound contribution to psychotherapy and to our knowledge of illness and healing."


DBessel A. van der Kolk, Clinical Director of the HRI Trauma Center, Boston University
"The speed at which change occurs during EMDR contradicts the traditional notion of time as essential for psychological healing. Shapiro has... [made] EMDR applicable to a variety of clinical populations and accessible to clinicians from different orientations."



"EMDR is the most revolutionary, important method to emerge in psychotherapy in decades."


Book Description
By the originator of the breakthrough therapy, this updated edition describes the latest uses of EMDR-including treating victims of September 11 and other disasters around the world. Hailed as the most important method to emerge in psychotherapy in decades, EMDR has successfully treated psychological problems and illnesses in more than one million sufferers worldwide, with a rapidity that defies belief. In a new introduction, Shapiro presents the new applications of this remarkable therapy and the latest scientific research that demonstrates its efficacy.


About the Author
Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., the originator and developer of EMDR, is a senior research fellow at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, California. She is the author of a textbook on EMDR and more than thirty journal articles. She lives in Sea Ranch, California. Margot Silk Forrest is a writer and editor.

ANNOTATION

Hailed as "one of the hottest trends in clinical psychology" (Newsweek) and praised as a "miracle cure" (New York magazine), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) has radically altered psychiatrists' ideas about how the psyche heals following trauma. This emancipating book, written by the developer of the technique, explores EMDR and tells how it works. 256 pp. Author tour. Targeted ads. 35,000 print.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

By the originator of the breakthrough therapy, this updated edition describes the latest uses of EMDR-including treating victims of September 11 and other disasters around the world.

Hailed as the most important method to emerge in psychotherapy in decades, EMDR has successfully treated psychological problems and illnesses in more than one million sufferers worldwide, with a rapidity that defies belief. In a new introduction, Shapiro presents the new applications of this remarkable therapy and the latest scientific research that demonstrates its efficacy.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

EMDR, or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, is a new, nontraditional, very short-term therapy for treating trauma victims that utilizes rhythmical stimulation such as eye movements or hand taps. Shapiro, a clinical psychologist and fellow at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, Calif., who developed the approach, reports cases in which as few as three 90-minute EMDR sessions have relieved patients' disabling anxiety. Explaining how she developed the technique in 1987, Shapiro describes the treatment, theorizes about why it works and cites supporting research. She suggests that the rhythmical stimulation inherent in the process jump starts and accelerates the brain's information processing system to enable the victims to begin to process the traumatic experiences in which they have been stuck so that natural healing can begin. Writer Forrest presents gripping case studies from numerous EMDR-trained therapists to demonstrate the effectiveness of the techniqueamong others, a Vietnam veteran with post-traumatic stress, a child with night terrors, a rape victim and a mother still nearly paralyzed with grief a year after her son's death. Other studies report success helping drug addicts and the terminally ill. (Apr.)

Library Journal

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a controversial method of psychotherapy used for treating posttraumatic stress syndrome and anxiety disorders. These two books provide an overview of EMDR for the general reader. Supporters claim that EMDR releases traumatic memories locked in the brain, accelerates recovery, and reduces stress; opponents point out that a neurological basis for this theory has yet to be established. These two new books on EMRR chiefly contain case histories and descriptions of the therapy; both warn against unauthorized use by therapists not trained by the EMDR Institute. Parnell, a clinical psychologist and senior EMDR Institute facilitator, claims a transcendent focus for EMDR, leading to "objective forgiveness" of oneself and the perpetrator of the trauma. Shapiro, who developed EMDR in 1989, documents research supporting EMDR, citing both controlled and uncontrolled studies and listing 12 populations where EMDR has been effectively used as a form of treatment. Both books are recommended for popular psychology collections, though Shapiro's book is the preferred choice for readers who may wish to follow up on EMDR research.Lucille M. Boone, San Jose P.L. Cal.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

"EMDR is the most revolutionary, important method to emerge in psychotherapy in decades."  — Harper Collins - New Media

"The speed at which change occurs during EMDR contradicts the traditional notion of time as essential for psychological healing. Shapiro has... [made] EMDR applicable to a variety of clinical populations and accessible to clinicians from different orientations."  — Harper Collins - New Media