EMDR Therapy
What Is EMDR?
Simply stated, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy—or EMDR—is an evidence-based approach that can treat many complex mental health issues. Though it is particularly helpful in treating trauma and PTSD, EMDR helps people cope with and overcome emotional suffering on many levels.
Most traditional talk therapy focuses on making cognitive or behavioral changes through discussion and exploration, which certainly has its benefits. However, EMDR works by gently looking at a specific traumatic memory while engaging in a series of bilateral stimulation techniques.
For instance, a client may be stimulated to make rapid eye movements, listen to shifting tones, or hold tappers that create alternating sensations they can feel in their hands. These techniques unlock the brain’s neuroplastic nature—its inherent capacity to heal and change how it processes information.
In a relatively brief amount of time, clients can learn how to manage difficult emotions, painful memories, and even trauma that’s being stored in the body. In essence, EMDR helps clients heal on a neurological, emotional, and physical level by treating the core issue instead of just focusing on symptom management.
EMDR’s Effectiveness Is Unmatched
Since its development by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy has become the go-to treatment method for addressing a wide range of complex problems. Numerous well-known organizations, including the American Psychological Association, the US Department Of Veteran Affairs, and the World Health Organization recognize the profound healing power of EMDR.
Because it’s so flexible, EMDR can be used to treat trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and eating disorders (among other things). And it’s been proven to create long-lasting results that go far beyond just symptom management.
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What Does The EMDR Therapy Process Look Like?
EMDR is broken down into eight phases—a process that allows both the client and counselor to measure progress and adjust treatment as needed. In that way, it lets therapists tailor a treatment plan for each person’s unique needs.
Typically, EMDR involves a certain amount of talk therapy to get to the core of what’s going on. This gives clients time to learn more about trauma, its effects on the mind and body, and how EMDR works. Open discussion also helps cultivate a greater sense of safety and trust that makes EMDR and the healing process more effective.
In sessions, I often integrate a combination of mindfulness, stress reduction, and emotional regulation skills that help clients mentally prepare for the deeper work of reprocessing traumatic memories. I also use breathwork, mindfulness meditation strategies, visualization, and even physical approaches (like yoga and moving meditation) to calm the mind and body.
Once I familiarize clients with my approach and equip them with effective tools for self-regulation, the eye movement, desensitization, and reprocessing part of EMDR therapy can begin.
The 8 Phases Of EMDR
Phase 1 – Assessing personal history and developing a treatment plan. Instead of just jumping right into EMDR sessions, I first help you to understand your trauma, the functions that specific triggers have, and why some memories or stimulations are so strong.
Phase 2 – Learning self-calming techniques. To help you process painful memories, manage overwhelming emotions, and navigate triggers better, you’ll learn valuable coping skills that you can use before, during, and between sessions.
Phase 3 – Guided visualization of memories. When you’re ready, I’ll have you recall a memory, image, belief, or bodily sensation associated with trauma or a negative life experience.
Phase 4 – Desensitization through Dual Attention Bilateral Stimulation. While you’re reflecting on the memories (thoughts, feelings, etc.) related to the traumatic experience, I will begin using bilateral stimulation techniques. This usually takes the form of rapid eye movements, shifting tones, or alternating tapping. And as this is happening, I’ll ask you to describe your thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations.
Phase 5 – Reprocessing the traumatic memory and integrating positive ideas. At this point, I’ll begin focusing on helping you make positive adjustments in your thoughts, feelings, and general mindset related to your experience.
Phase 6 – Body scan for residual physical symptoms. This step involves identifying and reducing any lingering bodily discomfort that may still be connected to your disturbing memory.
Phase 7 – Relaxation and debriefing. At the end of the EMDR session, I help you return to a state of emotional balance and ease out of session. That means assessing your existing self-regulation skills, determining if you need additional support, and encouraging you to document any issue that may come up later.
Phase 8 – Reevaluating overall progress and adjusting target memories. At this time, we’ll measure progress together and begin identifying targets for any following sessions.
Through this process, you can gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your trauma while fundamentally changing how you respond to emotions, triggers, and reminders of the past.
How You Benefit From EMDR Therapy
In some ways, you can think of emotional suffering as a splinter under the skin. If you remove the foreign body, healing begins. But if that splinter gets ignored and irritated on a daily basis, the pain grows. Trauma is like that splinter—except it’s a wound stored in the mind and body that ultimately changes how you think, feel, and function in the world.
While most traditional therapeutic approaches focus on managing symptoms and modifying behaviors, EMDR works on a neurological level, creating real, lasting change.
Rather than treating surface issues, EMDR gets to the heart of the matter and removes that splinter instead of putting a bandage on it. Basically, this robs traumatic memories and experiences of their emotional charge—and all without forcing you to relive painful (possibly retraumatizing) moments from the past.
EMDR Is A Holistic Approach To Treatment
EMDR typically works well in combination with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), parts work (Internal Family Systems, IFS), and a number of other treatment methods. Because of its structured nature, EMDR therapy is often shorter, more effective, and all-inclusive in its healing approach.
It gives both you and me a way to measure and visualize your progress. And you don’t have to do any homework between sessions—unless you find it helpful. So no matter if you’re dealing with anxiety and depression, grief and loss, low self-esteem, or trauma/PTSD (and other complex issues), it is possible to heal and fundamentally change your life for the better.
Let Me Help You Transform Your Life
Regardless of what you’re going through, the depth, scope, and effectiveness of EMDR as a treatment strategy can help you transform your life in amazing ways. So if you’re tired of being burdened by the past and are hoping that EMDR treatment is right for you, I invite you to contact me and find out more about how my experience as a specialist in this field may be able to help you.
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