Re:EMDR

EDMR borrows much from cognitive-behavioral (CB) therapy which reflects Albert Ellis' rational-emotive (RE) therapy techniques and Wolpe's counter-conditioning. The eyes (hand movements, sounds, etc.) are ideomotor signals and conditioned stimuli or "anchors" and certain eye movements (e.g., eye roll) are unconditioned stimuli, as you have previoiusly expressed and certainly have acknowledged in your discussions and writings about Erickson, hypnosis, NLP, etc. The reconditioning (reassociation) of the movements and stimuli with cognitive-affective states is also predated by much hypnotherapy literature and clinical presentations and reflects a very common self-hypnosis method of self-cues. The irony is that Francine Shapiro now seems to minimize the "eye-movement" desensitization and it is a key element for understanding the learning/trauma history of the person. Though your answer about muscles eliciting various states is on sound ground and has been a viable idea since Descartes represented mind-body interaction with the notion that body positions and activities influence the mind. Though the most clinically significant aspect is the unspoken socio-psychological circumstances responsible for the orgininal eye movement imprints.

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Great points , by Steve Lankton, 09/10/01

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