People
Francine Shapiro
Francine Shapiro (1948–2019) developed EMDR in the late 1980s. A brief profile of her work, publications and contribution to trauma therapy.
Reviewed by the BilateralSync clinical team · Updated · 4 min read
Introduction
Francine Shapiro (1948–2019) was an American psychologist who developed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) after observing in 1987 that spontaneous eye movements appeared to reduce the distress of disturbing thoughts. She formalized the observation into a structured protocol, tested it in her 1989 study, and spent the following decades developing the AIP model and training clinicians worldwide.
Evidence summary
Shapiro published the foundational EMDR text (Guilford Press, first edition 1995; third edition 2018), founded the EMDR Institute and the non-profit EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs, and received awards including the Sigmund Freud Award (2002) for her contribution to psychotherapy.
Clinical use
Her legacy is a specific, replicable protocol that made trauma-focused work accessible to a generation of clinicians and clients. EMDR is now recommended by the WHO, APA and NICE as an evidence-based treatment for PTSD.
Frequently asked questions
- When did Francine Shapiro develop EMDR?
- The first observation was in 1987; the first published trial appeared in 1989.
References
- Shapiro, F. (1989). Efficacy of the eye movement desensitization procedure.
- Shapiro, F. (2018). EMDR Therapy, 3rd ed. Guilford Press.
Related articles
EMDR Fundamentals
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR is an eight-phase psychotherapy for trauma developed by Francine Shapiro. Learn what EMDR is, how it works and what it treats.
Theory & Research
The Adaptive Information Processing Model
The AIP model is EMDR's theoretical foundation. It explains how memories are stored, why some become 'stuck', and how bilateral stimulation supports processing.
Bilateral Stimulation
What is Bilateral Stimulation?
Bilateral stimulation (BLS) is alternating left–right sensory input used in EMDR therapy. Learn what it is, how it works and how clinicians use it.