What Is EMDR Therapy Anyway?
EMDR EXplained
If you’ve been hearing about EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) lately, you’re not alone! This innovative neurobiological therapy has been gaining attention, not just for trauma, but for a wide range of mental health issues. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, addiction, grief or loss or something in between, EMDR might just be what you’ve been looking for.
But what is EMDR, really? How does it work? And is it right for you? In this blog, I’ll dive into the most common questions people have about EMDR—giving you a solid understanding of what to expect and why this approach is changing lives and transforming mental health treatment worldwide.
What Is EMDR Anyway?
Bilateral Stimulation Can Involve Eye Movements
At its core, EMDR therapy is an integrative psychotherapy that helps your brain reprocess distressing memories or life experiences. It’s different from traditional talk therapy because it involves something called bilateral stimulation, which could be eye movements, tapping, or sounds. These rhythmic movements help your brain “digest” stuck memories or experiences, so they no longer trigger you in the same way.
“Why do our brains get stuck?”
Your brain is designed to process and store experiences, but when something really traumatic or painful happens, the brain can get overwhelmed. Instead of filing the memory away like it normally would, it gets stuck, along with all the raw emotions, sensations, and beliefs tied to it. This is why certain events continue to cause distress, even years later. What’s more, this unprocessed material can be triggered by anything that feels even remotely similar to the original experience, causing more emotional pain and life disruption.
“But How Does EMDR Therapy Work Exactly?”
EMDR helps by using bilateral stimulation to guide your brain through a process of reorganization. This helps “close” that stuck file and put it away properly, so the experience no longer triggers intense emotional and physical responses and distressing thoughts.
During EMDR therapy sessions, you’ll focus on a troubling memory or experience, while engaging in these rhythmic movements. This encourages your brain to alternate between the left and right sides of your brain, helping you reprocess the event, so it is no longer “frozen” in its original emotional intensity. This allows you to feel less overwhelmed by it. Over time, the experiences is stored in a way that reduces its felt charge, making it easier for you to move forward without being constantly triggered by it. Imagine being able to think about something difficult from your past or present without feeling that punch in the gut!
“Can EMDR Therapy Help Me Even If I Don’t Have Trauma?”
Yes! While EMDR therapy is renowned for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), it’s effective for many other mental health issues. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, phobias, addiction, grief and loss, chronic pain, bipolar, OCD, personality disorders, eating disorders, or even low self-esteem, EMDR can help you reprocess the underlying emotions, sensations, and beliefs contributing to your struggles.
“What Are The Different Stages of EMDR Therapy?”
Bilateral Stimulation Can Involve Tones
EMDR therapy follows 8 basic stages that guide the healing process:
· First, your therapist will take your history and identify the issues you want to work on
· Then, you'll move into preparation, where you'll learn coping skills to help you feel safe and ready for the work ahead
· Next is assessment, where the specific memories or stressful experiences you're targeting will be identified
The desensitization phase uses techniques like eye movements, tones, or tapping to help you process and reprocess these experiences,
followed by installation, where new, more positive beliefs are reinforced
· Afterward, you'll do a body scan to see if any physical tension remains
· The session ends with closure, ensuring you're feeling stable
· The re-evaluation phase involves assessing your progress and the effectiveness of EMDR since your last session
** Though there is a standard protocol, therapists can adapt EMDR to address different issues such as trauma, anxiety, or grief. This flexibility means that a skilled therapist can tailor EMDR to meet your unique needs.
“What Happens During a Desensitization Session? Will I Have to Talk About What’s Distressing in Detail?”
Bilateral Stimulation May Involve Tapping
EMDR therapy sessions are structured but not rigid. You’ll start by talking with your therapist about what’s been bothering you—whether it’s a specific memory, life event, or a feeling you can’t shake. But unlike traditional therapy, you won’t have to go into deep, painful detail unless you want to. The goal is to notice the emotion, sensation or thoughts, not necessarily the event itself.
Then, your therapist will guide you through the bilateral stimulation process involving eye movements, tones, or tapping. Some people feel relief right away, while for others, it’s more of a gradual process. Either way, it’s common to feel lighter and more at ease as the sessions progress.
“How Quickly Will I See Results?”
Here’s the million-dollar question: How fast does it work? Well, it depends. Some people feel a shift after just a few sessions, especially if they’re working on a specific, isolated memory or experience. Others, especially those dealing with more complex issues like childhood trauma or chronic anxiety, may need more time.
A typical course of EMDR can range from a few sessions to several months, depending on the person and the issues being treated. But many clients report that EMDR works faster and provides longer-lasting results compared to traditional talk therapy alone.
“Is EMDR therapy Safe?”
Yes, EMDR therapy is considered very safe. Because EMDR involves processing intense emotions and sensations, it’s normal to feel emotionally tired after a session. Some people may even experience vivid dreams, heightened emotions, or flashbacks, while others might feel better or not notice much change. Negative side effects are temporary and usually fade as your brain adjusts. A qualified mental health professional will help you manage any reactions you experience both during and after sessions.
“What Makes EMDR Different from Regular Therapy?”
What sets EMDR therapy apart from traditional talk therapy (like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or psychodynamic therapy) is its use of bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess adverse life events contributing to trauma, anxiety, depression, addiction etc. —at the neurological lelvel—rather than solely exploring them through discussion and analysis at the mental level.
Also, in EMDR the focus is more on noticing your internal experience (such as body sensations, emotions, thoughts) rather than talking at length about an adverse life event. Thus, for many, EMDR feels less like “revisiting” such an event, and more like finally getting to move past it—often with fewer words involved. It’s a unique way of healing that complements many other types of therapy.
“Why Is It Important To Target The Brain to Fully Heal?”
Your most distressing experiences are stored not just in your mind, but also in your brain. Therefore, we have to go beyond cognitive and talk therapy - because unfortunately for most of us, if we were able to think our way out of our emotional state, we would have done it long ago.
While talk therapy focuses on the cognitive and verbal processing of a stressful event, neurobiological therapies like EMDR directly target the root cause of the distress stored in the brain, nervous system, and body. Integrating these therapies have helped many go beyond verbalizing their painful experiences to effectively processing and healing from them on a deeper level.
“Can I Do EMDR and Talk Therapy at the Same Time?”
Yes. Again, doing both EMDR and talk therapy is a common and effective approach. Talk therapy can provide a valuable space for processing emotions and discussing ongoing concerns, while EMDR targets specific adverse experiences to promote deeper brain and body healing. Many individuals find that the combination of both therapies offers a holistic approach to recovery and well-being.
“CAN EMDR be done virtually?”
Yes. EMDR therapy can be done virtually though dedicated EMDR software, and research shows that virtual EMDR is just as effective as in-person EMDR.
“Does EMDR Therapy Really Work? Is There Science Behind It?”
Yes, there’s a growing body of research supporting EMDR’s effectiveness. EMDR therapy has demonstrated high levels of effectiveness in numerous clinical studies and has been endorsed by organizations such as the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews to name a few.
It has shown substantial success in treating conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, with many individuals experiencing significant symptom reduction after a relatively short course of treatment. While the vast majority of our clients have experienced positive results from EMDR, like any form of therapy, individual results may vary.
Learn More About the Science Behind EMDR
EMDR International Association: https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/recent-research-about-emdr/
EMDR Canada: https://emdrcanada.ca/anxiety-eatingdisorders-pain-emdr/
EMDR Europe: https://www.emdr-europe.org/what-we-do/science/national-international-recognition
Final Thoughts: Is EMDR Therapy Right for You?
If you’re tired of being stuck in old patterns, weighed down by emotional baggage, or just curious to try something new, EMDR could be a powerful option. It’s an especially great fit if you’ve tried traditional talk therapy (e.g. CBT, DBT, psychodynamic therapy) and haven’t found the relief you’re looking for; it can be used alone or combined with talk therapy for enhanced results.
Ultimately, the best way to find out if EMDR therapy is right for you is to try it. You don’t have to go through life feeling trapped by your past or experiences—EMDR might just be the key to unlocking the peace, transformation, and well-being you deserve.
Interested in experiencing the benefits of EMDR for yourself? Reach out today and see how it can support your growth and healing.
Further Resources on EMDR
EMDR International Association: https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/
EMDR Canada: https://emdrcanada.ca/about-emdr/
How EMDR Works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKrfH43srg8
PTSD UK-How EMDR Works: https://www.ptsduk.org/how-does-emdr-work/