Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (known as "EMDR") is a mental health treatment developed by psychologist Dr Francine Shapiro in the 1990s. A structured therapy that encourages the patient to briefly focus on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. Backed by extensive scientific research, EMDR is widely recognised as an effective treatment for emotional disorders, such as PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Grief, Addictions, and other conditions.
EMDR is an individual therapy typically delivered one to two times per week for a total of 6-12 sessions, although some people benefit from fewer sessions. Sessions can be conducted on consecutive days. Traditionally EMDR therapy is delivered in clinics and therapy centers by therapists using light sources in dark rooms etc, as such accessibility to therapy can be limited and restricted for many.
ADDVantage Technologies aims to create a stand-alone online & video-assisted EMDR solution that will widen access to Mental health practitioners and clinicians enabling the delivery of care and therapies digitally. Therapists and patients can utilise the solution at a time and place convenient to them.
This stand-alone solution will play an integral part as an innovative solution as part of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service and Mental Health organisations can readily adopt and use it alongside their existing clinical systems.