EMDR Therapy: What is it, Who Does it Help, and How Does it Work?
If you’ve ever been curious about therapy options beyond traditional talk therapy (think CBT or DBT)—or if you’ve heard someone mention “EMDR” and thought What in the heck is that?—you’re not alone.
EMDR, short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a unique and evidence-based form of therapy that's been gaining attention for how effectively it helps people process traumatic memories, anxiety, and more. It may sound a little sci-fi/woo-woo/voodoo like at first (eye movements? really?), but stick with me—it’s actually a fascinating and deeply healing approach.
Let’s break it down.
What Is EMDR?
EMDR was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. The core idea is that traumatic or distressing experiences sometimes get “stuck” in our nervous system. Unlike normal memories, these stuck experiences can keep causing distress long after the event is over—think flashbacks, nightmares, or that heavy pit in your stomach when something triggers you.
EMDR helps the brain reprocess these memories in a healthier way so that they lose their emotional charge.
👉 Want a more detailed explanation? Check out this overview of EMDR from the EMDR Institute (founded by Shapiro herself). https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/
How Does It Work?
First, before you dive into your trauma, I (or another therapist) will make sure you have a good toolkit of coping skills, but EMDR specific, and ones that you already hold within yourself. This ensures that you are prepared and grounded to take on the traumas that are bringing you to seek EMDR therapy. During an EMDR session, I will guide you to briefly revisit a distressing memory with a targeted negative belief you hold about that memory while simultaneously engaging your brain in bilateral stimulation—usually through eye movements, tapping, or sounds alternating from left to right.
Why the eye movements? They mimic the REM sleep cycle, which is when your brain naturally processes information. This stimulation appears to help the brain unlock and re-integrate traumatic memories.
The therapy follows a structured eight-phase protocol (don’t worry—I will guide you the whole way), and many people report significant improvement even after a few sessions. You will likely see decreases in your symptoms including less anxiety, fewer flashbacks, more positive or neutral views of the trauma, and feeling more confident to manage future similar scenarios.
🌱 Who Can Benefit from EMDR?
Originally developed for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), EMDR has since been shown to help with:
Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks
Phobias
Grief and loss
Chronic pain
And even performance anxiety
It’s now recognized by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychological Association (APA) as a recommended treatment for trauma.
Final Thoughts
EMDR isn’t magic, and it’s not right for everyone—but for many, it offers a powerful and relatively short-term path to healing.
If you've been carrying around something heavy for a long time and traditional talk therapy hasn’t quite helped, EMDR might just be the gentle, brain-based approach you’ve been looking for.
As always, healing is a journey. Take your time, ask questions, and trust your gut.
If you’ve tried EMDR or are thinking about it, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to send me a message to get your healing journey started.