The History of EMDR Therapy

Discover the Milestones from Revolutionary Discovery to Global Impact

EMDR therapy, developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987, revolutionized mental health treatment with its unique approach to processing trauma. Over the years, it gained global recognition and acceptance, leading to the establishment of EMDR organizations and widespread adoption in therapeutic practices. Today, EMDR is a well-researched, evidence-based method, continuously evolving with advancements in psychology and neuroscience.

1987

Francine Shapiro, Ph.D

Francine Shapiro, Ph.D

In 1987, Francine Shapiro was walking in the park when she realized that eye movements appeared to decrease the negative emotion associated with her own distressing memories1,2.

She assumed that eye movements had a desensitizing effect, and when she experimented with this she found that others also had the same response to eye movements. It became apparent however that eye movements by themselves did not create comprehensive therapeutic effects and so Shapiro added other treatment elements, including a cognitive component, and developed a standard procedure that she called Eye Movement Desensitization (EMD)1.

Shapiro then conducted a case study4 and a controlled study1 to test the effectiveness of EMD. In the controlled study, she randomly assigned 22 individuals with traumatic memories to two conditions: half received EMD, and half received the same therapeutic procedure with imagery and detailed description replacing the eye movements. She reported that EMD resulted in significant decreases in ratings of subjective distress and significant increases in ratings of confidence in a positive belief. Participants in the EMD condition reported significantly larger changes than those in the imagery condition.

Shapiro wrote “a single session of the procedure was sufficient to desensitize subjects’ traumatic memories, as well as dramatically alter their cognitive assessments6.” Unfortunately, Shapiro has often been erroneously cited as claiming that “EMDR can cure [posttraumatic stress disorder] PTSD in one session (F. Shapiro, 1989).”7 Shapiro never made this statement; what she actually wrote was that the EMD procedure "serves to desensitize the anxiety … not to eliminate all PTSD-related symptomatology and complications, nor to provide coping strategies for the victims8” and reported "an average treatment time of five sessions"8 to comprehensively treat PTSD.

1988

• Shapiro conducts research on EMD
• Shapiro introduces EMD to researchers in Israel and to professional organizations throughout the US

1989

1989 was the first year that controlled studies investigating the treatment of PTSD were published.

Besides Shapiro’s article, three other studies9,10,11 were published. The Brom et al.9 study compared the results of psychodynamic therapy, hypnotherapy, and desensitization and provided an average of 16 sessions. It found clinically significant treatment effects for 60% of the civilian participants, with no differences between the conditions. The Cooper and Clum10 study compared flooding to standard care in a Veterans Administration Hospital. They reported moderate clinical effects after 6-14 sessions, with a 30% patient drop-out rate. The Keane et al.11 (1989) study compared flooding to a wait-list control for veteran participants and reported moderate clinical effects after 14-16 sessions.
See Comparison of EMDR and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for more information.

Shapiro continued to develop this treatment approach, incorporating feedback from clients and other clinicians who were using EMD.

1990

• Shapiro presents 1st EMDR trainings to licensed mental health professionals in US
• Shapiro trains first two university based research teams (Univ of PA and VA-August VA Medical Center)
• Training is provided to workshop participants at the annual conference of International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) in New Orleans, LA
(Trauma Studies: Contributions to Life Sciences & Humane Policy)
• Training restrictions are incorporated after hearing that those who had attended trainings in California had trained non-licensed health workers and their clients were reporting negative experiences
• Joseph Wolpe declares EMD is a “breakthrough” in the treatment of PTSD when Shapiro presents her EMD research at the annual conference of Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy (ABT)
• The EMDR Institute is created.

1991

In 1991 she changed the name to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing12 (EMDR) to reflect the insights and cognitive changes that occurred during treatment, and to identify the information processing theory that she developed to explain the treatment effects.

Because EMDR therapy was an effective treatment, achieving results very quickly for many clients, Shapiro felt an ethical obligation to teach other clinicians so that individuals suffering from PTSD could find relief. However, EMDR was still experimental since it had not received independent confirmation through other controlled studies. She attempted to resolve this ethical dilemma by teaching EMDR only to licensed clinicians, and by ensuring that everyone who learned the approach was trained by the EMDR Institute in the same model. That way safeguards would be in place, clinicians would be taught to inform clients of its status, and a feedback system would allow everyone that was trained to get the most up to date information.

• EMD is officially renamed EMDR, reflecting Shapiro’s recognition that effects extend beyond those accounted for by desensitization and are better explained by information processing theories based on what she termed Accelerated Information Processing
• Formation of the EMDR Network, which publishes and disseminates the EMDR Networker, the first publication to focus specifically on EMDR clinical issues
• The EMDR ethics and professional issues committee, composed of clinicians at the MRI, strengthens and oversees training requirements and restrictions
• Specialized protocols are created for using EMDR with dissociative disorders and critical incidents
• First EMDR trainings are conducted in Paris, Amsterdam, and El Salvador
• The first humanitarian training is provided to clinicians in Nicaragua
• Wolpe publishes an independent study on EMD:
Wolpe, J., & Abrams, J. (1991, March) Post-traumatic stress disorder overcome by eye movement desensitization:  A case report. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 22(1), 39-43

1992

• The EMDR Network holds the first EMDR conference in San Jose, California, with clinical presentations teaching applications of EMDR for various populations and presenting problems
• First EMDR training in Australia
• The EMDR Dissociative Disorder Task Force Position Paper is published (?)

1993

• The EMDR Institute is incorporated
• The first randomized clinical trial is published (Boudewyns et al., 1993) using a veteran sample with PTSD
• Dr Shapiro receives the Distinguished Scientific Achievement in Psychology Award presented by the California Psychological Association
• First EMDR training in Canada

1994

• Humanitarian trainings are provided by Institute trainers to local clinicians in Croatia (Zagreb), Sarajevo (Bosnia, Herzegovina)
• First EMDR training in England

1995

In 1995, after other controlled studies had been published, the label “experimental” and the training restrictions were removed and a textbook of procedures was published13.

Shapiro has been severely criticized by some for her method of dissemination, because she initially restricted training and because she taught an experimental procedure. However, these critics ignore the APA ethics code mandated responsibilities of an innovator to determine training practices and the fact that even as late as 1998, there were no treatments for PTSD that were designated as well-established and empirically validated15. At that time, independent reviewers for the Clinical Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association identified three treatments with “probable efficacy.” These were EMDR, exposure therapy, and stress inoculation therapy.

Since the initial studies were published in 1989, hundreds of case studies have been published, and there have been numerous controlled outcome studies16 . These studies have demonstrated EMDR’s effectiveness in PTSD treatment and EMDR is now recognized as efficacious in the treatment of PTSD.
See Efficacy of EMDR and Summary of PTSD Studies

A professional association, independent from Shapiro and the EMDR Institute was founded in 1995 to establish standards for training and practice. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) declares that its primary objective is “to establish, maintain and promote the highest standards of excellence and integrity in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) practice, research and education.” Information about EMDRIA is available at www.emdria.org

Despite its demonstrated effectiveness, similar to most new approaches in psychotherapy, EMDR has been surrounded by controversy. While some critics have labeled EMDR a “pseudoscience” others have commented that these conclusions are based on misinterpretations of the literature
See Confusion, Misinformation, and Charges of "Pseudoscience"

Another area of debate is the role of eye movements in EMDR
See Eye Movements and Alternate Dual Attention Stimuli and What has research determined about EMDR's eye movement component? in the Commonly Asked Questions section.

• Shapiro’s text book, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols and Procedures, is published. This explicates her theory, the Accelerated Information Processing model
• The first randomized clinical trial on EMDR treatment of civilian PTSD is published (Wilson et al., 1995), providing evidence of EMDR’s efficacy
• EMDR Institute training restrictions are removed due to the independent research support and the published clinical standards articulated in the text book
• The response of the EMDR community to the Oklahoma bombings results in the creation of the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs (EMDR-HAP)
• HAP goes to Northern Ireland
• The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) is formed, replacing the EMDR Network with 473 charter members
• First EMDR training in Germany
• EMDR Institute becomes CE provider

1996

• The first issues of the EMDRIA Newsletter are published
• First EMDR trainings in Argentina and South Africa
• Shapiro receives Humanitarian Assistance Award presented by the EMDR International Association • The first issues of the EMDRIA Newsletter are published
• First EMDR trainings in Argentina and South Africa
• Shapiro receives Humanitarian Assistance Award presented by the EMDR International Association

1997

• Development of the EMDR Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (Butterfly Hug) by members of AMAMECRISIS, after Hurricane Pauline ravaged the western coast of Mexico (Artigas et al., 1999).
• First EMDR trainings in Brazil, Japan, and Chile
• Publication of Shapiro and Forrest book for lay people EMDR: The Breakthrough Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress, and Trauma. New York: BasicBooks
• Barbara Korzun becomes HAP Response Coordinator
• HAP Project in Mexico in response to hurricane (Butterfly Hug developed by Lucy Artigas)

1998

• Formation of EMDR Association of Australia and EMDR Association of Canada
• EMDR is recognized as “probably efficacious” for civilian PTSD by the Clinical Division of the American Psychological Association
• Randomized clinical trial on EMDR treatment of military veterans is published, showing that 12 sessions resulted in 77% remission of PTSD diagnosis (Carlson et al., 1998)
• First of several meta-analyses that have compared EMDR and exposure therapy (and other cognitive behavioral therapies), reporting equivalent effects (Van Etten & Taylor, 1998)
• HAP Bangladesh Project is implemented
• HAP goes to India in response to earthquake/floods
• HAP goes to Turkey in response to earthquake/floods
• HAP appoints Barbara Korzun as Executive Director

1999

• Formation of EMDR Europe
• Formation of EMDRIA Latinoamerica
• EMDRIA launches professional development programs including EMDRIA Credit Programs, Therapist Certification Program, Approved Consultants
• First EMDR training in India
• HAP implements Carver Model of Governance

2000

• HAP conducts basic training (P1 and 2) in response to Columbine shooting for Columbine Connections-single important intervention according to organizer

2001

• Release of the second edition of Dr Shapiro’s text, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles and Procedures, in which she explains the change from the Accelerated Information Processing model to the Adaptive Information Processing model
• HAP TPO (Trans Cultural Psychosocial Organization) Project in France where people from Algeria and Africa are trained (French speaking)
• HAP 911 Response providing no fee EMDR treatment to 1st responders, survivors and families of victims
• HAP 1st TRN is developed in response to 911
• HAP provides EMDR refresher courses to EMDR trained clinicians in NY DC
• HAP goes to Gujarat, India in response to earthquake
• United Kingdom Department of Health-Best Evidence of Efficacy was reported for EMDR (also exposure, and stress inoculation)

2002

• Shapiro receives the International Sigmund Freud Award for Psychotherapy presented by the City of Vienna in conjunction with the World Council of Psychotherapy
• EMDR is one of three therapies recommended for treatment of terror victims by the Israeli National Council for Mental Health. (This is the first of many recommendations by various national health councils for EMDR treatment of PTSD)
• Publication of Shapiro’s book EMDR as an Integrative Psychotherapy Approach: Experts of Diverse Orientations Explore the Paradigm Prism. Wash., D.C.: American Psychological Association Press

2003

• Robert Gelbach becomes Executive Director of EMDR HAP
• CREST-EMDR is treatment of choice (and CBT) by N Ireland Dept of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
• Dutch National Steering Committee Guidelines Mental Health Care- EMDR (and CBT) designated as treatments of choice for PTSD

2004

• EMDR is recommended as an effective treatment for trauma by the American Psychiatric Association
• EMDR placed in the "A" category as “strongly recommended” for the treatment of trauma by the USA Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense
• INSERM- EMDR is considered treatment of choice (CBT) by French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Paris, France
• Therapy Advisor-NIMH sponsored website lists EMDR as empirically supported for PTSD

2005

• Research study based on HAP response to 911 published (Silver, Rogers, Knipe, Colelli) Title: EMDR therapy following the 9/11 terrorist attacks: A community-based intervention project in New York City
• National Institute for Clinical Excellence-NICE Guidelines (London)-EMDR (and CBT) are stated to be empirically supported treatments for choice for adult PTSD
• HAP goes to India, Sri Lanka, Thailand in response to tsunami
• HAP goes to Louisiana and Mississippi in response to hurricane

2006

• Presentation at EMDRIA conference and publication of EMDR and new notes on adaptive information processing: Case formulation principles, scripts and worksheets. Camden, CT: EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs
• HAP goes to Indonesia in response to tsunami
• EMDR Research Foundation is founded

2007

• Formation of the EMDR Iberoamerica Association, with 15 member countries
• Publication of the Cochrane Review, recognizing EMDR as an efficacious treatment for PTSD
• The first issue of the Journal of EMDR Practice and Research is published
• First study comparing EMDR to pharmacological treatment for PTSD (van der Kolk et al., 2007) shows EMDR to be more successful in achieving sustained reductions in PTSD symptoms
• EMDRIA implements new curriculum requirements for Basic EMDR Training
• Publication of Shapiro, Kaslow and Maxfield book Handbook of EMDR and Family Therapy Processes. New York: Wiley.
• HAP goes to Indonesia in response to tsunami

2008

• Establishment of the Francine Shapiro Library, a comprehensive electronic resource for articles and references related to EMDR, hosted by Northern Kentucky University (http://library.nku.edu/emdr/emdr_data.php) (Barbara Hensley & Philip Yannarella)
• Shapiro receives State of Connecticut General Assembly Official Citation in recognition of the development of EMDR therapy
• Shapiro receives City of New Haven Board of Alderman Official Citation in recognition of the contribution of EMDR therapy
• AMEDD contracts with EMDR Institute for military trainings
• HAP goes to Chengdu, China in response to earthquake

2009

• Dr. Shapiro receives the American Psychological Association Division 56 Award for Outstanding Contributions to Practice in Trauma Psychology
• The first issue of the Japanese Journal of EMDR Practice and Research is published
• During the EMDR-Europe Association annual meeting, plans are made for the establishment of an EMDR-Asia Association in 2010
• HAP goes to Chengdu, China in response to earthquake
• EMDR celebrates its 20th anniversary

2010

• The first Asian EMDR Conference titled Building Bridges Between East & West Through EMDR held in Bali, Indonesia
• EMDR Asia is formed in Bali at the first EMDR Asia Conference
• California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare Trauma Treatment for Children-EMDR and Trauma-focused CBT are considered “Well-Supported by Research Evidence”
• HAP goes to Haiti in response to earthquake
• HAP goes to Joplin, Missouri and Tuscaloosa, Alabama in response to tornados • The first Asian EMDR Conference titled Building Bridges Between East & West Through EMDR held in Bali, Indonesia
• EMDR Asia is formed in Bali at the first EMDR Asia Conference
• California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare Trauma Treatment for Children-EMDR and Trauma-focused CBT are considered “Well-Supported by Research Evidence”
• HAP goes to Haiti in response to earthquake
• HAP goes to Joplin, Missouri and Tuscaloosa, Alabama in response to tornados

2011

• Shapiro accepts the Sarah Haley Award for Clinical Excellence presented to EMDR HAP by ISTSS at the 27th Annual Meeting in Baltimore, MD (Social Bonds and Trauma Through the Life Span)
• EMDR Research Foundation is founded
• SAMHSA (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices-National registry (NREPP) cites EMDR as evidence-based practice for treatment of PTSD, anxiety and depression symptoms
• HAP goes to Sichuan, China in response to earthquake

2012

• Publication of Shapiro’s book for lay people/general public Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy. NY: Rodale
• HAP goes to Oklahoma in response to tornado
• EMDR Global Alliance (was World Forum) is formed to provide an international forum for the discussion of matters relevant to research on and the practice of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).

2013

• WHO (World Health Organization) recognizes the worldwide impact of EMDR stating “Individual or group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a trauma focus, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), or stress management should be considered for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• HAP goes to New York, New Jersey, Connecticut in response to hurricane
• HAP goes to Newton, Connecticut in response to school shooting
• HAP goes to Yarnell, Arizona and San Diego, California in response to forest fires
• Shapiro presents at Iberoamerica conference in Costa Rica

2014

• HAP goes to Philippines in response to typhoon
• EMDR Europe conference celebrates EMDR 25th anniversary
• EMDR International Association conference celebrates EMDR 25th anniversary
• The Francine Shapiro Library is sponsored by EMDRIA.
• The United Nations Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations recommended that the United Nations Economic and Social Council grant EMDR-HAP Special Consultative Status.
• Dr. Francine Shapiro renamed from EMDR to EMDR therapy to recognize it officially as a distinct integrative psychotherapeutic approach.
• TRN/EMDR-HAP chapters responded to the Boston Marathon bombing and to the Oso mudslide in Washington state.

2016

• Shapiro and Forrest wrote the first book on EMDR specifically for the lay person Shapiro and Forrest published the second edition of their book on EMDR for the client: Shapiro, F., & Forrest, M. S. (1997b). EMDR: The breakthrough therapy for overcoming anxiety, stress, and trauma (2nd ed.). Basic Books

2018

• Shapiro publishes the third edition of her EMDR textbook: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures. (3rd ed.). Guilford Pres

2019

• Francine Shapiro passes away- Sea Ranch, California, June 16, 2019
• Council of Scholars is formed by EMDRIA .

2020

• Ireland separates from the United Kingdom to establish their own EMDR Association.
• As the COVID-19 pandemic invades the United States, many EMDR-trained therapists find themselves implementing EMDR therapy through telehealth
• EMDR Institute implements online Basic Trainings
• The first online EMDRIA conference is conducted due to the pandemic.

2022

• The Francine Shapiro Library and the EMDR Research Foundation are moved to Hope International University-Fullerton CA

2023

• Council of Scholars is dissolved

Reference

1Shapiro, F. (1989). Efficacy of the eye movement desensitization procedure in the treatment of traumatic memories. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2, 199-223.

2Shapiro, F. & Forrest, M. (1997). EMDR The Breakthrough Therapy for Overcoming Anxiety, Stress and Trauma. New York: Basic Books

5Shapiro, F. (1989). Eye movement desensitization: A new treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 20, 211-217.

6Shapiro, F. (1989). Efficacy of the eye movement desensitization procedure in the treatment of traumatic memories. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2, 199-223

7Lohr, J. M., Tolin, D. F., & Lilienfeld, S. O. (1998). Efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Implications for behavior therapy. Behavior Therapy, 29, 123-156.

8Shapiro, F. (1989). Efficacy of the eye movement desensitizatioin procedure in the treatment of traumatic memories. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2, 199-223.

9Brom, D., Kleber, R. J., & Defares, P. B. (1989). Brief psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 57, 607-612

10Cooper, N.A., & Clum, G.A. (1989). Imaginal flooding as a supplementary treatment for PTSD in combat veterans: A controlled study. Behavior Therapy, 20, 381-391.

11Keane, T.M., Fairbank, J.A., Caddell, J.M., & Zimmering, R.T., (1989). Implosive (flooding) therapy reduces symptoms of PTSD in Vietnam combat veterans. Behavior Therapy, 20, 245-260.

12Shapiro, F., (1991). Eye movement desensitization & reprocessing procedure: From EMD to EMD/R-a new treatment model for anxiety and related traumata. Behavior Therapist, 14, 133-135.

13Shapiro, F. (1995). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols and Procedures (1st edition). New York: Guilford Press

15Chambless, D.L., Baker, M.J., Baucom, D.H., Beutler, L.E., Calhoun, K.S., Crits-Christoph, P., Daiuto, A., DeRubeis, R., Detweiler, J., Haaga, D.A.F., Bennett Johnson, S., McCurry, S., Mueser, K.T., Pope, K.S., Sanderson, W.C., Shoham, V., Stickle, T., Williams, D.A., & Woody, S.R. (1998) . Update on empirically validated therapies, II., The Clinical Psychologist, 51, 3-16.

16For complete listing see See Shapiro, F., (2001). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols and Procedures (2nd edition). New York: Guilford Press