So, does EMDR cure anxieties and phobias in one session?
No, this is not a claim the EMDRIA (the umbrella organization of EMDR) makes. However, two research studies have indicated an elimination of diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder in 83-90% of civilian participants after four to seven sessions. The only study of combat veterans to address the multiple traumas of this group reported that 12 sessions of treatment resulted in a 77% elimination of PTSD. Are the treatment effects maintained over time? Different long-term (longitudinal) studies have been conducted using 3, 4, 9, 15 months and 5 years for post-treatment assessment of the effects of the EMDR sessions. The literature states that “treatment effects were maintained in eight of the nine studies.” In my practice I have found that EMDR is not a cure-all for everyone—it is doubtful that any psychotherapeutic intervention will ever fit that description. However, it is a simple alternative method for treating anxiety, depression, phobias and PTSD that can prove efficacious for many
