| Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a treatment for trauma that has been approached primarily from cognitive-behavioral and neurobiological perspectives. This thesis explores the notion that much of EMDR's effect in the way of transformation and healing trauma is due to its ability to provoke imagination. The possibility of EMDR's connection with the imaginal faculty of the psyche is investigated with an emphasis on the qualities of EMDR that are grounded in depth psychology principles. Trauma and the importance of imagination in the healing process are discussed from the approach of the analytical and archetypal schools of psychology in addition to current bioscience perspectives. The research methodology used is alchemical hermeneutics, which facilitates the mining of unconscious material through transference dialogues. The thesis demonstrates that EMDR, when practiced within the context of depth psychology, is one avenue for activating significant, transformative imagery and accessing the unconscious to facilitate healing. |
