ABSTRACT
I have learned from speaking publicly about EMDR that these three sentences introduce information that makes it almost impossible for me to proceed further, in an orderly way, to satisfy all of my audience. Some professionals, when informed that a method of psychotherapy involves therapistdirected eye movement, have a strong need to concretely understand the exact form this method takes before accepting any other information on the subject. Others will just as strongly, and justifiably, need to know that there is an empirical reason to take this claim seriously before they can make the effort to understand it further. A third group will insist on knowing that these claims are theoretically possible before further consideration. It is far easier to integrate the three kinds of information in verbal conversation than it is when writing. When speaking to an audience in person, one may use asides, tone of voice, and gestures to convey information on several channels at once. The immediate feedback enables one to tell which part of the message needs to be elaborated quickly; further, one can estimate the audience well enough to immediately respond to the most hostile group (challenging entrenched assumptions always has the potential to precipitate strong reactions).
