OEI stands for Observed Experiential Integration, a type of therapy that helps people process traumatic events from their past. OEI was developed by Audrey Cook and Rick Bradshaw in the 1990s, based on the principles of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) .

OEI uses the visual pathways of the brain to integrate both hemispheres, which results in a reduction of anxiety and trauma symptoms.

OEI works by detecting and removing "emotional slivers" from the eyes, which are traces of unresolved trauma that affect how we see ourselves and the world.

The therapist guides the client to cover or uncover one eye at a time, while following the therapist's finger movements with their eyes.

This stimulates the brain to process the traumatic memories and emotions in a safe and controlled way. OEI can help with a variety of issues, such as PTSD, phobias, depression, sexual assault, childhood abuse, eating disorders, negative self-talk, abusive relationships, and low self-worth.

OEI has helped clients normalize their experience and find relief within 2 sessions.

OEI is a somatic-based therapy, which means it addresses the impact of trauma on both the mind and the body. OEI can help clients heal from their past and move forward with more confidence and resilience.

OEI utilizes a combination of:

• Observation: Clients are guided to "observe" their internal experiences. This may include:
• Thoughts: Negative beliefs or self-talk patterns that arise.
• Emotions: Identifying the feelings connected to the traumatic memory.
• Body Sensations: Noticing physical reactions like tightness, rapid breathing,
• Experiential:  Therapists introduce gentle interventions to facilitate processing:
• Eye Movements: Often alternating between covering each eye, similar to EMDR.
• Somatic (Body-Based) Techniques: May include guided breathing or grounding exercises.

How does OEI work?

‍We see the world one eye at a time.

OEI engages the processing of psychological trauma through a re-imagining/recall of a specific intense experience. Through activating such memories a person will likely experience vague physical (e.g. upset stomach, shortness of breath, dry throat, numbing sensation etc.) and perceptual symptoms (tingling or numb sensation within the body, drowsiness, sweating, blurred vision, altered emotional state to name a few) to intense panic symptoms (e.g. hyperventilating, abnormally high heart rate, dizziness or 'feeling fain' or light headed etc.).‍

• The science behind OEI
  In brief, through a series of “switching” (covering one eye while holding an intense trauma memory, aka the “target”) from eye-to-eye, enables the brain to re-integrate the fragmented trauma experience. A target is a specific memory during the trauma event that was most disturbing to you.
• The "stuck" feeling explained
  This “stirred up” or “stuck” feeling is a result of the limbic freeze response (read more here) – the sensation occurring as a result of your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems being engaged (think of this as having your foot on the brake of your car, whilst hitting the gas with the other).
• How OEI therapy facilitates reprocessing
  Holding this target in mind, under the guidance of an OEI therapist helps the trauma sufferer reprocess the original trauma event. Moving towards reintegration, the person then begins to experience a reduction in their trauma symptoms.
• Transformation:  From lion in the living room to lion at the zoo
  Ultimately, once this hemispheric integration process occurs, memories of the trauma are no longer associated with an intensely emotional experience. This re-experiencing is analogous to seeing a lion (the original traumatic memory) in the living room, to the lion in the zoo (once hemispheric integration has occurred).