We are pleased to announce that we will be writing and posting monthly book reviews and picks from our clinical staff members. These are books that are great for clients to learn more about specific mental health issues, certain therapy models or positive coping skills. We hope you find these useful and informative.
Our first pick is from Sue Mann, LCSW, LCAC. She has recently completed her training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR as it is more commonly know. Sue is excited to share this book with you written from the creator of this therapy model. Please let us know if you have any comments and/or suggestions for topics. You can email us at [email protected]. Enjoy!
This book, written by Francine Shapiro, the developer of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR for short, provides readers with an explanation of the basic concepts of EMDR psychotherapy. Her writing leads readers through exercises to develop safe ways of accessing positive memory networks. In addition, she lays the groundwork for identifying negative cognitions and touchstone memories that are causing distress currently in the lives of individuals. She does this as a way to prepare individuals to apply EMDR techniques to decrease the emotional impact of those cognitions and memories.
Although this book is written for lay people, the author frequently reminds the readers to seek direction from a therapist, if their self-directed use of EMDR techniques becomes too intense. She identifies that EMDR is a useful form of therapy for people with various issues including; PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, substance dependence and grief, along with a variety of other issues.
I found this book to be an excellent introduction to EMDR therapy, providing the basic framework of EMDR and sharing numerous examples of EMDR case studies. I would recommend this book to clients wanting to learn more about EMDR therapy before seeking EMDR therapy and to therapists as a basic framework to begin the study of EMDR therapy. - Sue