The Thinking Person's Guide to EMDR

Lipke's integrative model of psychotherapy is a very helpful framework from which to make sense of EMDR and of psychotherapy in general. He proposes that therapy is based on a Four Activity Model (FAM): accessing current information, introducing new information, facilitating information processing, and inhibition of information processing. While this framework is invaluable in thinking about EMDR, it also provides a lens through which other therapeutic approaches can be viewed, and helps to suggest why simplistic efforts at therapy (like just giving advice) will be less than helpful.

I use this book in my graduate level EMDR course. It does an excellent job of integrating both theory and research findings into EMDR practice. In addition, Lipke's shares many examples of his use of EMDR with combat veterans; the metaphors and other information he presents to his clients are well-suited to many clients, especially men.

This book will be most useful to intellectual readers who have a strong interest in EMDR practice AND theory. When my students ask what book about EMDR they should recommend to skeptical mental health professionals, this is the one I suggest.

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Well researched and documented

This is a somewhat technical exposition of EMDR as well as a more general theory of psychology. It will probably be most helpful to professionals in the field but also offers a lot to interested laypeople.

As for EMDR itself, I haven't tried it but I know several people who have and feel that it has helped them. This book helps to explain why.

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