Francine Shapiro

Maxim LipatovPracticing psychologist

Published:July 4, 2026

Updated:July 8, 2026

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        "content": "Francine Shapiro (February 18, 1948 – June 16, 2019) was an American psychologist who originated and developed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. Today, EMDR is recognized by the World Health Organization and included in clinical guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a frontline treatment for trauma.\n\n## The Path to Discovery: From Literature to Psychology\n\nFrancine Shapiro was born in Brooklyn, New York. She earned her B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Brooklyn College and enrolled in a Ph.D. program in English Literature at New York University, planning to write her dissertation on the poetry of Thomas Hardy.\n\nHowever, in 1979, while working on her dissertation, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. This event became a turning point. After surgery and a divorce, her physicians warned that the cancer could return at any time. She shifted her focus to studying the connection between stress and disease, inspired by the work of Norman Cousins and other researchers in the emerging field of psychoneuroimmunology. Francine entered a clinical psychology doctoral program and moved to San Diego.\n\n## The Accidental Discovery in the Park\n\nIn 1987, while walking in a park in California and thinking about distressing thoughts, Shapiro noticed something unusual: when her eyes spontaneously moved rapidly from side to side, her disturbing thoughts disappeared. When she intentionally brought them back, they no longer bothered her as much. Later, she recalled:\n\n> \"I was astonished. When I moved them deliberately, the pain from the heavy memories disappeared. Moreover, feelings and thoughts like 'I am helpless' and 'something is wrong with me' were replaced by others: 'it's all in the past' and 'I have a choice'.\"\n\nShapiro began systematically studying this phenomenon. She asked friends and colleagues to think about disturbing images while following her fingers with their eyes — the subjects' condition noticeably improved. She tested this principle with approximately 70 people, refining the protocol. This led to the birth of the method, which was initially called Eye Movement Desensitization (EMD).\n\n## First Research and Recognition\n\nIn 1987–1988, Shapiro conducted the first effectiveness study of the method with Vietnam War veterans and sexual assault victims, all diagnosed with PTSD. The results were impressive: over 90% of patients no longer met PTSD criteria after three 90-minute sessions.\n\nIn 1989, she published the results in the *Journal of Traumatic Stress*. This publication generated immense interest and began the widespread adoption of the method.\n\nIn 1990, Shapiro renamed the method to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), as it became clear that the process not only desensitized but also involved deep reprocessing of traumatic information. Shapiro herself emphasized that EMDR is more than just eye movements — it is a comprehensive system of psychotherapy.\n\n## The EMDR Institute and Global Dissemination\n\nIn the 1990s, Shapiro founded the EMDR Institute in Pacific Grove, California, which was responsible for training and certifying specialists. By 1997, more than 10,000 psychotherapists had been trained, and by 2010, over 25,000 specialists from various countries had been trained, making it one of the fastest-growing psychotherapies in the world.\n\nFrancine Shapiro wrote the foundational book *Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures* (1995), which was translated into 10 languages and has seen several editions. She also founded the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programs (HAP), a nonprofit organization that coordinates the work of psychologists in disaster zones and war-torn regions worldwide.\n\n## Recognition and Awards\n\nFor her contributions to psychotherapy, Francine Shapiro received numerous honors:\n\n- **International Sigmund Freud Award for Psychotherapy** (2002) from the City of Vienna and the World Council for Psychotherapy for her contributions to the field.\n- **American Psychological Association Division 56 Award** for Outstanding Contributions to Practice in Trauma Psychology.\n- **Distinguished Scientific Achievement in Psychology Award** from the California Psychological Association.\n\nShe was appointed to the \"Cadre of Experts\" of the American Psychological Association and Canadian Psychological Association Joint Initiative on Ethnopolitical Warfare.\n\n## Later Years and Legacy\n\nIn her later years, Francine Shapiro experienced a recurrence of her cancer. Her immune system weakened after chemotherapy, and she succumbed to respiratory complications. She passed away on June 16, 2019, at the age of 71.\n\nToday, EMDR is recognized by leading global and national organizations. She is honored by the Francine Shapiro Library — an electronic resource for scholarly articles on EMDR — as well as research awards from EMDR Europe and EMDR International Association.\n\n## Learn More\n\n- [How EMDR Works](https://blsnow.io/en/articles/how-emdr-works)\n- [EMDR for PTSD](https://blsnow.io/en/articles/emdr-for-ptsd)\n- [EMDR Research](https://blsnow.io/en/articles/emdr-research)\n- [Find an EMDR Therapist](https://blsnow.io/en/specialists)\n\n## Sources\n\n1. [Luber, M., & Shapiro, F. (2009). Interview with Francine Shapiro: Historical overview, present issues, and future directions of EMDR. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 3(4), 217-231.](https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/19504)\n2. [Francine Shapiro Legacy Library. About Dr. Francine Shapiro.](https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/about-dr-francine-shapiro)\n3. [Shapiro, F. (1989). Efficacy of the eye movement desensitization procedure in the treatment of traumatic memories. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2(2), 199-223.](https://www.emdr.com/history-of-emdr/)\n4. [Solomon, R., & Maxfield, L. (2019). Obituary: Francine Shapiro. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 13(3), 158-162.](https://spj.science.org/doi/full/10.1891/1933-3196.13.3.158)\n5. [Shapiro, F. (1995). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures. New York: Guilford Press.](https://www.emdr.com/history-of-emdr/)\n6. [EMDR Institute. History of EMDR Therapy.](https://www.emdr.com/history-of-emdr/)\n7. [EMDR International Association. 30th Anniversary Timeline.](https://www.emdria.org/30th-anniversary/timeline/)\n8. [EMDR UK Association. Dr Francine Shapiro Obituary 1948-2019.](https://map.emdrassociation.org.uk/effective-authentic-accredited/about-emdr-association-uk/dr-francine-shapiro-obituary-1948-2019/)\n9. [EMDR Europe. Francine Shapiro Award.](https://www.emdr-europe.org/what-we-do/awards/francine-shapiro-award)\n10. [World Health Organization. Guidelines for the management of conditions specifically related to stress. Geneva, WHO.](https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550079)\n11. [Shapiro, F. (2001). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.](https://www.guilford.com/books/Eye-Movement-Desensitization-and-Reprocessing-EMDR-Therapy/Francine-Shapiro/9781462532766)",
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