EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

Overview
EMDR therapy is an integrative, evidence-based psychotherapy method developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It is best known for its effectiveness in treating trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), though it has since been applied to a wide range of mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, phobias, chronic pain, and attachment wounds.

The core premise of EMDR is that traumatic or distressing experiences can become “stuck” in the brain’s information-processing system. These unprocessed memories continue to trigger emotional, cognitive, and physiological responses as if the original event is still occurring. EMDR aims to “unlock” these stuck memories and help the brain reprocess them in a way that is adaptive and no longer distressing.

How It Works

EMDR therapy is structured into eight phases, which include:

1. History Taking & Treatment Planning
   The therapist gathers detailed background information and identifies target memories related to trauma or distress. A treatment plan is created, tailored to the client’s needs.

2. Preparation
   Clients are educated about the process and taught grounding techniques and coping strategies to ensure emotional stability during and between sessions.

3. Assessment
   A specific traumatic memory is chosen to focus on, including associated images, beliefs, emotions, and bodily sensations. Baseline levels of distress (SUDs) and belief (VoC) are established.

4. Desensitization
   The client is asked to focus on the distressing memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation — most commonly eye movements, but sometimes taps or sounds alternating from left to right. This process helps the brain reprocess the memory.

5. Installation
   Once the distress linked to the memory has decreased, a positive belief (e.g., “I am safe now”) is strengthened and paired with the memory.

6. Body Scan
   The client scans their body for residual tension or discomfort. Any remaining somatic distress is targeted with further reprocessing.

7. Closure
   The session is concluded with grounding and self-regulation techniques. Clients are supported to return to a state of calm and stability.

8. Re-evaluation
   At the start of the next session, the therapist reviews progress and determines whether the target memory was fully processed or needs more work.

What Makes EMDR Unique?

• Does not require detailed verbal recounting of trauma. This can be especially helpful for individuals who find traditional talk therapy retraumatizing.

• Taps into the brain’s natural healing ability. EMDR leverages the brain’s information-processing system, much like REM sleep does, to resolve emotional pain.

• Efficient and time-limited. Many clients experience significant relief in fewer sessions compared to other trauma-focused therapies.

Evidence-Based and Widely Endorsed

EMDR is recognized as an effective treatment for trauma by leading organizations, including:

• The World Health Organization (WHO)

• The American Psychiatric Association (APA)

• The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

• The U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

What EMDR Can Help With

• PTSD and complex trauma

• Anxiety and panic attacks

• Phobias and performance anxiety

• Grief and loss

• Depression

• Attachment and relational trauma

• Chronic pain and medically unexplained symptoms

• Addictions and urges

• Self-esteem and negative core beliefs

The EMDR Experience

Clients often report that EMDR helps them feel “freed” from distressing memories. What once triggered fear, shame, or anger becomes neutral — remembered, but no longer overwhelming. The goal is not to forget the past, but to be able to recall it without being emotionally hijacked by it.