Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

(EMDR)

What is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a gentle, evidence-based therapy that helps people heal from painful experiences, trauma, or stuck emotional patterns. Instead of just talking through what happened, EMDR uses guided eye movements or other forms of rhythmic stimulation to help your brain reprocess those memories—so they don’t feel so overwhelming or present anymore.

You don’t have to go into every detail of your past. You just need a willingness to show up, and we’ll guide the rest—at your pace, in a way that feels safe and supported. EMDR helps your brain do what it naturally knows how to do: heal.

How Does EMDR Work?

EMDR helps the brain process unresolved emotional experiences by activating both sides of the brain through something called bilateral stimulation. This might look like moving your eyes back and forth, tapping your hands alternately, or listening to sounds that shift from left to right.

This type of stimulation helps "reopen" the brain’s natural processing system, which often gets disrupted during trauma or high-stress experiences. When something overwhelming happens, your brain sometimes stores the memory in a raw, unprocessed form—frozen in time, with all the emotions, beliefs, and sensations still attached. That’s why certain memories can still feel so vivid, painful, or triggering, even years later.

Bilateral stimulation mimics what the brain does during REM sleep (the part of sleep where we process memories and emotions). It helps shift the brain out of survival mode (fight, flight, or freeze) and into a more adaptive, integrated state. As a result, the brain can start to reprocess the memory—linking it with healthier thoughts, emotions, and perspective.

After successful EMDR reprocessing, the memory itself doesn't disappear, but it loses its emotional charge. You may still remember what happened, but it no longer feels as intense or defining. It becomes something from your past, not something that’s still running your nervous system.

How Do I Know if EMDR is Right for Me?

EMDR can be a great option if you're feeling stuck in patterns, thoughts, or emotional reactions that just don’t seem to shift—even if you’ve tried therapy before. It’s especially helpful for people who have gone through something overwhelming, painful, or traumatic (even if it happened a long time ago), and still feel the effects today.

You might be a good candidate for EMDR if:

  • You have distressing memories or experiences that feel “stuck” or too present

  • You’re dealing with anxiety, depression, or low self-worth linked to past events

  • You find yourself reacting strongly to certain triggers and don’t fully understand why

  • You’ve tried talk therapy and insight-building, but the emotional charge hasn’t changed

  • You’re open to trying a different approach that’s structured, but doesn’t require retelling every detail

EMDR isn’t just for trauma in the traditional sense—it can help with everything from childhood experiences and relationship wounds to phobias, medical trauma, and grief. You don’t need to have a specific diagnosis to benefit.

The best way to find out if EMDR is a good fit is to have a conversation with a trained therapist. Together, we’ll explore your goals, what you’ve already tried, and whether EMDR might be the next step on your healing path.

 FAQs

  • Not necessarily. Unlike some therapies that involve talking through every part of your experience, EMDR allows you to process without needing to describe everything out loud. You’ll stay in control of what you share.

  • It depends on the person and what you’re working through. Some people feel relief after just a few sessions, while others need longer. Your therapist will work with you to move at a pace that feels safe and manageable.

  • Nope! While it’s best known for trauma and PTSD, EMDR is also used for anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, phobias, grief, and even performance anxiety. If you’re stuck in a pattern that feels emotional or reactive, EMDR might help.

  • Bilateral stimulation means activating both sides of your brain—usually by moving your eyes back and forth, or using alternating taps or tones. This helps the brain “digest” unprocessed memories, similar to how it does during REM sleep (when you're dreaming). It’s a key part of what helps EMDR work.

  • Yes—EMDR is well-researched, widely used, and considered safe when done with a trained clinician. You stay awake, alert, and in control the entire time. You won’t be hypnotized or out of it.

  • Sometimes. It’s normal to feel stirred up after processing difficult memories. But your therapist will guide you through preparation and grounding techniques so you feel safe and supported every step of the way.

  • Yes. You don’t need a clear or detailed memory to benefit. EMDR can work with body sensations, emotions, or “felt senses” tied to something your mind may not fully remember.