Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapeutic approach designed to alleviate distress associated with traumatic memories. Developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR integrates elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy with bilateral stimulation techniques, such as eye movements, taps, or sounds, to facilitate the processing of distressing memories. The premise behind EMDR is that traumatic experiences can become 'stuck' in the brain, leading to symptoms like flashbacks, anxiety, and hypervigilance. By engaging in bilateral stimulation while recalling traumatic memories, individuals undergoing EMDR therapy can reprocess these memories, making them less distressing and integrating them into their overall narrative of life experiences. EMDR has been widely used and studied, showing effectiveness in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related disorders.