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Eye Movements That Heal: How IMO Therapy Unlocks Trauma’s Grip
Discover how moving your eyes could help you move past your pain
Trauma leaves deep marks on the mind and body. Yet, a surprisingly simple tool has emerged to heal these wounds: Integration of Ocular Movements (IMO). While it may sound like a fancy term for “eye exercises,” the reality is far more profound. Guided eye movements have the power to unlock the brain’s natural ability to process trauma, providing relief to those trapped by painful memories.
In this article, we’ll explore the science, process, and transformative potential of IMO therapy, a technique that is quickly gaining recognition alongside its better-known cousin, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Let’s dive in.
What Is IMO, and How Does It Work?
Integration of Ocular Movements is a form of neurotherapy where a practitioner guides a patient’s eye movements to address psychological trauma. Unlike talk therapy, which requires processing through words, IMO works on a deeper level — stimulating neural pathways that trauma often blocks. By reactivating these pathways, IMO allows the brain to process unresolved memories and their emotional charge.