What is EMDR?

The adaptive information processing model (AIP) is the model that EMDR Therapy founder Dr. Francine Shapiro created to explain how unhealed traumatic memories are stored in the brain and ultimately lead to maladaptive responses. Until these unhealed memories are processed, maladaptive responses are likely to continue. The neurobiological information processing system is intrinsic, physical and adaptive. This system is geared to integrate internal and external experiences and memories are stored in associative memory networks and are the basis of perception, attitude and behavior. These stored memory experiences are contributors to pathology and to health.

Trauma causes a disruption of normal adaptive information processing, which results in unprocessed information being dysfunctionally held in memory networks. New experiences link into previously stored memories which are the basis of interpretations, feelings, and behaviors. If high levels of disturbance accompany experiences, they may be stored in the implicit/non-declarative memory system. These memory networks contain the perspectives, affects, and sensations of the disturbing event and are stored in a way that does not allow them to connect with adaptive information networks. When similar experiences occur (internally or externally) they link into the unprocessed memory networks and the negative perspective, affect, and/or sensations arise. This expanding network reinforces the previous experiences. Adaptive information, resources, and memories are also stored in memory networks.

Direct processing of the unprocessed information facilitates linkage to the adaptive memory networks and a transformation of all aspects of the memory. Non-adaptive perceptions, affects, and sensations are discarded. Processing of the memory causes an adaptive shift in all components of the memory, including sense of time and age, symptoms, reactions, behaviors and sense of self.

*Taken from The Institute for Creative Mindfulness EMDR Training Course Part 1