Francine Shapiro, Ph.D.
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Dr. Francine Shapiro is the originator and developer of EMDR therapy, which has been designated as an effective trauma treatment by a wide range of organizations, including the American Psychiatric Association and the Department of Defense. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the Mental Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, Director of the EMDR Institute, and founder of the non-profit EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs, which provides pro bono training and treatment to underserved populations worldwide.

Dr. Shapiro is a recipient of the International Sigmund Freud Award for Psychotherapy of the City of Vienna, the American Psychological Association Trauma Psychology Division Award for Outstanding Contributions to Practice in Trauma Psychology, and the Distinguished Scientific Achievement in Psychology Award, from the California Psychological Association. She is an invited speaker at psychology conferences and universities worldwide, and has authored numerous articles, chapters, and books about EMDR therapy, including the primary text for clinicians Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols and Procedures. Her new book for both laypeople and clinicians is called Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy.

Visit the websites:

EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs: http://www.emdrhap.org

EMDR Institute: http://www.emdr.com

Blog Entries by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D.

The Many Faces of Fear and How to Deal With Them

(10) Comments | Posted February 28, 2012 | 7:13 AM

We've all heard the phrase "life is suffering." Unfortunately, some people misinterpret this to mean there is nothing they can do about their unhappiness. Everyday fears can range from minor anxieties to an intense fear of things that can often be avoided, like snakes or spiders. But generally people enter...

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Why Our Unconscious Rules Us and What to Do About It

(88) Comments | Posted February 19, 2012 | 9:14 AM

One of the common denominators of people who enter therapy is the feeling of being "stuck" in some way. Often there is the feeling of not being able to break out of a set of behaviors, feelings or thoughts. People know "it should be different," but can't seem to get...

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How Memories Keep Us Apart: The Past Is Present

(40) Comments | Posted February 5, 2012 | 10:30 AM

When I first began to develop EMDR therapy back in 1987, I experimented with everyone who was willing to volunteer. I'd ask: Do you have anything bothering you? Not surprisingly, everyone had something. Whether it was a problem at work or a fight at home, by having them concentrate on...

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Baby Boomers and Distant Dads

(40) Comments | Posted January 27, 2012 | 7:41 AM

The tragic story involving the Iraq War veteran accused of killing five homeless people could have been averted. According to his family, his war experiences caused him to come home a changed man. It also set me thinking about how many casualties of war there really are, with tragedies that...

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