Practical Uses of Eye Movement Integration

Practical Uses of Eye Movement Integration
by Jan Prince, NLP Practitioner & Trainer

When I took the NLP practitioner training twenty some years ago I remember utilizing the different eye movements to detect which representation system a person was using at any time and to elicit the use of a particular rep system by having the person look in the direction aligned with that rep system. Eye Movement Integration makes another entirely practical use of this famous NLP observation.

Some years later at an Educational Kinesiology workshop I learned how to use cross-lateral eye movement to help balance and integrate left and right hemisphere processes: While holding your head still, follow the movement of your finger tip with your eyes. First, move the finger up to the left and down to the right 8 times, then up to the right and down to the left 8 times; making an X movement.

At an advanced NLP training I learned the EMI process which was the X movement with a box around it; made by moving the eyes from left to right at visual level, then up right to down right, down right to down left, and finally down left to up left. This process activated and exercised the whole brain and all the rep systems.

Over the years I have used this X and Box exercise in many ways that you may also find useful in daily life in your psychotherapy practice, training situations, group facilitations as well as personal situations.

 

Stress and Anxiety Reduction

When an individual is experiencing stress symptoms or anxiety I find that what they are usually doing internally is running an auditory/visual tape loop of their worst fear over and over, causing a strong negative kinesthetic response. Using the Eye Movement Integration pattern shakes up this dysfunctional loop and allows all of the mind’s resources to attend to the problem.Example: Joe was referred to me by an associate in a nearby city. When we talked on the phone he was in bad shape. He had been with a hi-tech firm for many years which was going through a traumatic reorganization. He did not get along with his new boss and his job was being phased out. At 55 he felt unprepared to search for new employment, yet the existing situation was stressful with a ‘no win’ ending.

I couldn’t fit him into my schedule for a week, so I gave him the instructions on how to do the EMI process, having him do it while we were on the phone. He noticed that his field of vision seemed to expand and that he felt more hopeful.

Once we began meeting to strategize his job search, looking at and transforming his limiting beliefs and behaviors, we continued to use the EMI in the session whenever he became fearful and again at the end of the session to organize and integrate his learnings.

It became a process he used daily during his successful transition to a new position within the large company.
Breaking tense situations and integrating information in groups

When facilitating meetings or conducting trainings I find that EMI is an effective “break”. When emotions start to flare during negotiations or group discussions I use it to help the participants expand their perspectives and calm emotions.

Believe it or not, it is an easy “sell” to get any group to try it. I simply explain that the technique is a way to balance right/left brain functioning and to calm things down. I then demonstrate it on myself and invite the entire group to follow suit. They figure as long as I am willing to make of fool of myself in front of them, they might as well give it a try!

I’ve had people tell me that the group has continued to use this process to take breaks and at the conclusion of meetings on a regular basis—it’s become their positive anchor.

Personal uses

Whenever I am going through a particularly stressful time in my life, or I am preparing to take on a new endeavor that might cause some anxiety, I use EMI twice daily. When I awaken in the morning and before I get out of bed, I’ll do several iterations of the X and box and then again throughout the day when I take a break or before I go to sleep. It invigorates my thought processes and calms my nerves.
I also use it with a client who is elderly and to whom changes come with trepidation and confusion. When I do the EMI with him he seems to feel more positive and resourceful about his transitions and sometimes comes in only to chat and have the EMI process done!

I tell people it is the easiest, cheapest antidepressant and anti-anxiety drug around. Give it a try!

Jan Prince is a regular member of our training team.  She’ll be with us this summer in the Residential Trainings.

Eye Movement Integration (EMI), developed by Connirae and Steve Andreas, is NLP’s kinder, gentler, more rapid and effective precursor to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. (EMDR).  If you would like a more thorough demonstration and instructions, we recommend the “Eye Movement Integration -DVD” – A Demonstration conducted by Steve Andreas with a Veteran with PTSD. Click Here to find out more and get yours!