ECEM (Eye Closure Eye Movements): Integrating Aspects of EMDR with Hypnosis for Treatment of Trauma

Abstract

The paper addresses distinctions between hypnotic interventions and Eye Movement Desensitizing and Reprocessing (EMDR) and discusses their effect on persons who have symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Eye movements in hypnosis and EMDR are considered in terms of the different ways they may affect responses in treatment. A treatment intervention within hypnosis called ECEM (Eye Closure, Eye Movements) is described. ECEM can be used for patients with histories of trauma who did not benefit adequately from either interventions in hypnosis or the EMDR treatment protocol used separately. In ECEM the eye movement variable of EMDR is integrated within a hypnosis protocol to enhance benefits of hypnosis and reduce certain risks of EMDR.