What is EMDR? How can it help you?
Since I was trained in EMDR in 2019 and achieved my certification, its popularity has continued to rise with celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Sandra Bullock talking openly about their experiences with the popular modality. There are a TON of acronyms in the therapy world, so let’s break it down:
What is EMDR?
EMDR or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is an somatic and evidence-based trauma treatment that takes advantage of your brain’s natural ability to sort information by simulating the power of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycles using bilateral stimulation (BLS). BLS is a term for any stimulus on both sides of the body which allows both left and right hemispheres of the brain to communicate (eye movement, alternating tapping or auditory clicking/beeping, etc.) Somatic therapy focuses on integrating what the brain and body knows to be true. EMDR is effective because the brain works much faster than our words or ability to “figure out” our experiences.
Who is EMDR for?
EMDR is ideal for clients who feel caught between what they know logically and what they continue to experience emotionally or physically. Many people understand their patterns, triggers, or goals on an intellectual level, yet still feel frustrated and annoyed when their body reacts in ways that seem unhelpful or contradictory. EMDR is for anyone interested in teaching their body what their mind already knows. By working with how experiences are stored in the nervous system, EMDR helps integrate insight with felt experience, allowing new responses to emerge naturally rather than through effort or self-correction.
This approach is especially powerful for clients who notice themselves stuck after moments of conflict or emotional intensity. You might find yourself obsessing over an interaction, thinking, “I know I shouldn’t take that personally, but it feels like an attack,” or “I know my partner just needs space and they’re not abandoning me, but something feels off.” EMDR helps address the underlying emotional and somatic responses driving these reactions, not just the thoughts about them. As the body begins to feel safer and more regulated, clients often experience a sense of relief, clarity, and flexibility, which makes it easier to respond in ways that truly align with their values and goals.
More specifically, EMDR is for people dealing with trauma (both single events and ongoing or relational trauma), anxiety, attachment wounds, chronic stress, low self-worth, or difficulty regulating emotions after conflict. It’s also helpful for clients who overthink, people-please, shut down, or become easily activated in relationships. You don’t need to remember every detail of what happened, and you don’t need to “relive” your experiences because EMDR meets clients where they are and helps the nervous system resolve what talking alone often can’t.
How does EMDR work?
EMDR takes advantage of the existing map of experiences and beliefs in your brain and capitalizes on your natural ability to sort memories and experiences. You have two sides of your brain, right and left. The right side is where your amygdala fires up creating responses like fear and aggression. The left side is where more logical processes happen, like numbers and language. The left hemisphere controls the right-hand side of the body and vice versa. EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (BLS), including rapid eye movements (REM) and tapping, to help both sides of the brain to communicate, allowing for the brain to sort these stressful memories and release discomfort stored in the body.
How is EMDR different from other therapy modalities?
One piece of healing is to learn coping strategies to help you manage your symptoms; however, without somatic release of the pain of the past, it is similar to putting a band-aid on a leak resulting in ongoing build up of tension in the body. If you’ve ever had to choose between cramming and sleeping the night before a big exam or presentation, you know from experience that trying to process a large amount of information the night before is next to useless compared to the benefits of sleep.
During sleep, your brain is busy sorting information, memories, and experiences from the day. Each sleep cycle lasts only 90 minutes and you begin dreaming during REM or the rapid eye movement cycle when your brain puts together a movie of thoughts, images, and elements from your life. You may or may not remember your dreams when you wake up, but this cycle is critical to sorting your memories and experiences. When something traumatic or particularly stressful that exceeds your ability to cope in the moment happens, your brain cannot sort the information in the same way it would after a typical day.
What can you expect in EMDR treatment?
Based on your current experience and goals for treatment, we will decide together during your first 15 minute consult meeting if my skills and approach are best suited to meet your needs right now. Once we agree to work together, you can expect the following:
Establishing a Therapeutic Relationship: The initial sessions will focus on building a therapeutic relationship together. Trust is an important part of this process and involves discussing your concerns, goals, and expectations for therapy
Assessment and Treatment Planning: We will build a mutual understanding of your specific needs and develop a treatment plan for you. This includes your history, current symptoms, and any particularly stressful or traumatic experiences
EMDR Therapy Techniques:
Mapping Target Memories: During our treatment planning sessions, we will identify specific distressing memories or events that you wish to process. One of the benefits of EMDR is that you do not have to identify or discuss specific details of these memories for the treatment to be effective
Bilateral stimulation (BLS): You will receive a link to remotEMDR, a platform equipped with audio (listening to alternating sounds in each ear) and visual cues (following an icon from once side of the screen to another with your eyes) to facilitate processing
Processing and Integration: As you experience the bilaterlal stimulation, you may notice shifts in your thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. Between rounds of BLS, I will help you process these experiences and integrate them into the rest of your experience
Ongoing monitoring and adjustments: We will regularly monitor your progress and make adjustments to the treatment plan together as needed. This can include revisiting past targets, addressing new concerns, or incorporating other therapeutic techniques
Important Considerations:
Technical Requirements: A reliable internet connection and device (computer, laptop, tablet) with a stable camera and microphone are required for effective telehealth treatment
Privacy and Confidentiality: I adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines to ensure the safety and privacy of your sessions. I recommend you prepare a quiet and comfortable space for your sessions where you can feel safe and undisturbed
Interested in learning more about how EMDR could help you?
