Which statement describes a characteristic of EMDR as a PTSD treatment?

Which statement describes a characteristic of EMDR as a PTSD treatment?

• A. It does not involve talking about the trauma
• B. It is proven superior to standard CBT
• C. It requires medication
• D. It involves following the therapist's moving finger with eyes

Answer: (D)

EMDR relies on bilateral stimulation paired with processing of the trauma memory. In practice, the client recalls the traumatic event while following the therapist’s moving finger with their eyes—often the most recognizable feature of EMDR. This eye-movement component, used during desensitization and reprocessing, is believed to help the memory be reprocessed and integrated, reducing distress over time. It does not require medication, and while conversation about the trauma can occur, the defining element is the guided eye movements during processing. Research supports EMDR as an effective PTSD treatment and it’s often found to be comparable to standard CBT, though not universally shown to be superior. So, the statement describing following the therapist's moving finger with eyes captures the characteristic feature of EMDR.

EMDR relies on bilateral stimulation paired with processing of the trauma memory. In practice, the client recalls the traumatic event while following the therapist’s moving finger with their eyes—often the most recognizable feature of EMDR. This eye-movement component, used during desensitization and reprocessing, is believed to help the memory be reprocessed and integrated, reducing distress over time. It does not require medication, and while conversation about the trauma can occur, the defining element is the guided eye movements during processing. Research supports EMDR as an effective PTSD treatment and it’s often found to be comparable to standard CBT, though not universally shown to be superior. So, the statement describing following the therapist's moving finger with eyes captures the characteristic feature of EMDR.