Introducing our new EMDR Podcast!

Our team has now launched our first EMDRmovie.com podcast. The shows are designed to discuss important issues regarding both EMDR in general and the film’s progress and production. We’ll be looking at the basics of EMDR as well as key developments in the field. Through interviews with major personalities and practitioners, the podcast will be a dynamic and thought-provoking addition to the dialogue we’re building on as we create and promote this documentary film.

Please click on “click here to listen to our new podcast” at the following website: www.emdrmovie.com/beapart.html

Thank you in advance for spreading the word about this new exciting addition and for sharing the link with friends and colleagues.

Use this blog to share your stories

Dear Friends,

We'd like to welcome you to share your stories about EMDR here at our blog. Whether you're a client, ex-client, therapist, or researcher, we hope you'll use this space to share your story with others.

Please remember two things. The way this blog works, you can only start a new post if you're designated as a contributor. Therefore, to share your story you must do it as a "comment" on a post. Use THIS post as your starting point and share your story as a comment following this.

Also, please remember that you can post anonymously if you want to. It's far more important that your story is shared than whether it's shared with your name attached. Again, reveal only as much information as you feel comfortable. We welcome posts of all kinds.

I very much hope to read your story here. Thank you in advance for your contribution.

Yes! Keep in Touch With Me!

At the conference in Atlanta, a number of people in the EMDR community stopped by the table and gave us their contact info so we can stay in touch with them about the movie. The first batch of letters went out recently to the 28 who asked us to keep in touch with them. (If you didn't get a message from me recently, it's because we're still deciphering your handwriting, or maybe we don't have an email address from you... do you have a sec to send this to me?)

Would you like to be on the list? We'll send periodic updates of significant developments, quick email suggestions of ways to promote the movie to your colleagues, behind-the-scenes progress toward the finished product.... I promise you will not be inundated with emails -- I guarantee it actually, since the time I have available to volunteer will keep me from getting out of control!

We'd be happy to add you to the list -- just send me a quick message with your email, and you're all set! Thanks for supporting this fantastic project!

-- Jeanette (jeanette.gascho@gmail.com)

Thank You

Thank you to all our friends, new and old, who came by our table to say hello and to spend some time with us this weekend. It was a fantastic conference and renewed our energy in this important project.

As Matt and others pointed out, if there were ever a time to make this film, the time is now. There are millions of people suffering out there that do not need to. Thank you for joining us in the effort to inspire people to take a step toward EMDR.

The community of EMDR therapists ...

This past weekend in Atlanta has affirmed what I already knew: EMDR therapists are very generous people! So many of you made time to make your contribution to the movie, and we're so grateful!

Barbara Hensley was the humble recipient of the Francine Shapiro award on Friday night. And among her numerous generous activities, her $1000 contribution to the movie was mentioned in the speech to honour her. Thank you again, Barbara -- you were the first to make a donation this size.... who will be next?

Sara Gilman (incoming President of EMDRIA) also stopped by the table to make a contribution... despite the fact that her back was so sore she could hardly bend over -- the sacrifices we make! Thank you, Sara, for your generosity in re the movie, and for your committment to EMDR.

The tribute evening to Francine was so moving... from Chris Ranck's stunning musical gifts, to the video Michael created with interviews from many who have been involved with EMDR for years. What a wonderful gift of humour and struggle Michael portrayed in a very few minutes! I was moved just by the sheer numbers in that room, the strong presence of HAP, all inspired by Francine's tenacity and committment to "nobody gets left behind."

I felt so humbled and proud to be associated with this community of people, all committed to making a difference through EMDR. I feel confident this passion will be a major character in the movie!

-- Jeanette

Looking Forward to Atlanta

I'm in the midst of packing for the EMDR conference next week (I'm guessing it will be a lot hotter than it's been here in Ontario!), and looking forward to being part of the 20th anniversary celebrations! Michael, the director of this important project will be there -- it will be fun to have a chat in person! I'm also looking forward to meeting Dr. Earl Grey, who has been working with real people who have agreed to have their therapeutic journeys with EMDR recorded for possible inclusion in the documentary.

Look for a movie "presence" at the conference... be part of making this movie happen with a small or large donation. Did you know you can have the satisfaction of sponsoring one minute of the final film? Ask us about the Your Minute campaign!

Here are a couple excerpts from a press release in February...
"To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of EMDR, the EMDRIA Foundation is pleased to release an exclusive DVD featuring a forty minute in-depth interview with EMDR creator, Dr. Francine Shapiro. The DVD was produced by award-winning filmmaker Michael Burns, as part of his full-length documentary EMDR, slotted for release in 2010...

Profits from the sale of the DVD will benefit the EMDRIA Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports EMDR research and education, and fund the completion of Michael Burns' EMDR movie."

I'm hoping there will be opportunities to view and/or purchase copies of the interview at the conference (the DVD is also a thank-you gift when you make a $50 donation to the movie).

Safe travels, everyone!

-- Jeanette

Healing is Happening

This past weekend, some great work was done. One of the participants have felt the shift and has gained the ability to mange life more effectively. The participant reports that the there is now a connection between the thoughts and beliefs of heath and the body. The participant has done wonderful work and has been so open to the project. This is very exciting progress. We are still looking for veterans who are interested in participating on the east coast near Pittsburgh. If you have any contact please pass on the referral information.

Dr. Earl Grey.

Posting from another blog

From the blog Parasites of the Mind:

http://parasitesofthemind.blogspot.com/2009/04/survivors-speak-emdr-movie.html

My story is one that like many others, is still unfolding. In 2006, I was exploring talk therapy and using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to look at some incidents from my life. I have memories that made deep impressions on me and that cause me great anxiety to recall.

Click on the above link for more.

In Full Swing

I hope all is well with those of you following the progress of this film. Thus far the participants are making significant progress and their brains are firing toward health. The footage has some really great examples of how a person is able to heal and make progress more efficiently than traditional therapies. One participant has been in traditional therapy for 10 years with practically no progress. Now, after only 5 sessions of EMDR, the participant is feeling free. This is very exciting. Please spread the word about the film and those of you who have gained relief form EMDR, please tell us your story on the blog.

Warm Regards,

Dr. Earl Grey

We're Looking to Expand

Hi Everyone-

I wanted to put out a post to say that we're looking to add more people to our team for this film. If you have something to contribute, we'd love to integrate you into what we're doing. Perhaps you have a friend with energy and ideas when it comes to mental healthcare or EMDR- we'd love to hear from them too. Together we're capable of so much more than we are on our own.

Contact us at hello@emdrmovie.com

Take care! Michael

New DVD from EMDRIA

Hi Friends-

Here's a link and excerpt from the EMDR International Association's website about a new DVD they're marketing in conjunction with our film:

February 28, 2009 -- To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of EMDR, the EMDRIA Foundation is pleased to release an exclusive DVD featuring a forty minute in-depth interview with EMDR creator, Dr. Francine Shapiro. The DVD was produced by award-winning filmmaker Michael Burns, as part of his full-length documentary EMDR, slotted for release in 2010.

"What's special about this interview is that Dr. Shapiro provides a lively and thoughtful introduction to EMDR while at the same time adding a deeper explanation for those who already know the basics," said Burns. "As a result, the DVD would be an extremely useful tool for EMDR therapists to give potential clients or to hand to colleagues being introduced to the protocol."

Profits from the sale of the DVD will benefit the EMDRIA Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports EMDR research and education, and fund the completion of Michael Burns' EMDR.

To see the full press release, click here.

Your Minute

Hi Everyone- We're launching a new campaign called Your Minute. It's designed for those looking to make a larger contribution to the film who are also looking to get something special back, a made to order perk package with video, DVD, and invitation gifts along with other items of your choice. You can follow the details at the film's website.

Keeping You Updated!

Hello all,

We have completed our first weekend of filming gathering initial stories from participants. This was an extremely exciting and productive weekend. We also seem to have established a "grove" for the project. Reviewing the preliminary data has proved really exciting. There seems to be some pattern with Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and the telling of the experiences. Interestingly, it appears that participants' HRV is more coherent when speaking of the most threating memory. As the filming and data gathering proceed, this pattern may change and more patterns will emerge.

We are still in search of participants. If you know of anyone who would be interested in receiving Free EMDR treatment to resolve discomfort from past traumatic event(s) (e.g. 9/11, Combat Vets, Violence, etc.), please pass the information regarding the film along.

Please share you thoughts and any suggestions you have.


Warm Regards,

Dr. Earl Grey

We're looking for stories

Hi Everyone- Right now, one of the things we're doing is looking for stories having to do with EMDR. There are two main types that we're collecting. We'd like stories of people who have been impacted by EMDR, whose health has improved personally or who have watched a loved one go through a change that has made a real difference. Secondly, we're looking for people in need of EMDR- individuals who have been through an experience that EMDR can possibly address. As many of you know, we're offering free EMDR therapy to selected individuals by a fully certified and fully trained EMDR therapist with many years of experience at no cost to the individuals being treated. And we still have some slots available.

If anyone comes to mind, please talk to them about the offer and ask them to be in touch with us if interested.

Thank you, Barbara -- the first $1,000 donation!

I was thrilled to see that a very generous soul has demonstrated tangible support for the movie... This wonderful person -- Barbara Hensley --contributed $1,000 to help make the movie happen and get the word out! Yay! Thanks, Barbara for giving permission for your name and profile to be public so we can all thank you "in person"!

And we can all celebrate the other generous souls' donations so far at the bottom of the fundraising page and track the progress toward the goal by going to this site: http://www.indiegogo.com/project/view/936?iggref=IXAA_ALSO

Every little bit helps, and Barbara, your BIG bit helps even more!

-- Jeanette

EMDR - Don't you wish everybody did?

I'm a therapist and EMDR practitioner in Ontario, Canada. EMDR is one of the most practical and efficient tools I've ever used. Almost every day there's another situation where I think (or say): EMDR! That person needs EMDR! It would make all the difference...

Like yesterday: a Toronto news story about three teenagers who were standing near the edge of a subway platform when a train was coming... They were deliberately pushed. One managed to regain his balance and not fall down onto the track. The other two did fall, and somehow in a split second rolled under the lip of the platform. They didn't die; one has a serious injury to his foot.

The mother of the boy who regained his balance commented on how he cannot go anywhere on the subway now -- he's so traumatized... EMDR! It would be perfect for that kid! I hope that a Toronto EMDR therapist called the media and made him/herself available.

This is the film's mandate: to get the word out. Wouldn't it be amazing if everyone immediately thought, yes, that person has undergone something awful -- I wonder when they'll start EMDR? And it was just a matter of everyday knowledge: that EMDR helps. A lot.
It's an exciting project, and I'm happy to be a contributor (small though my contribution is). I really encourage other practitioners to assist in any way with getting this film made. We can all help in the momentum of getting the word out -- let's start a ground-swell!

-- Jeanette

Welcome

Welcome friends. We're starting this blog to collect ideas and comments about the new EMDR documentary film that's being created. It's very important to us that this film reflect the wide interest in EMDR and speak to as many of the communities who use it and need it as possible. This special film will be a journey for all of us who are involved, and by the end we hope to create something that will be both a tool and a source of inspiration for therapists, doctors, clients, and anyone who wants to see a reduction in unnecessary mental suffering.

See the film's site at emdrmovie.com