EMDR is a technique originally developed by a psychologist to treat issues related to trauma. This technique has now been adapted by sport psychologists to remove maladaptive thought patterns that interfere with athletes achieving peak performance in sport.
The theory is that EMDR works directly with memory networks and enhances information processing by forging associations between the distressing memory and more adaptive information contained in other memory networks. It is thought that the distressing memory is transformed when new connections are forged with more positive and realistic information. This results in a transformation of the emotional, sensory, and cognitive components of the memory so that when it is assessed the individual is no longer distressed. Instead he/she recalls the incident with new perspective, new insight, resolution of the cognitive distortion, elimination of the emotional distress, and relief of related physiological arousal.