EMDR THERAPY

What Is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is an 8-phase form of psychotherapy that helps the brain process unresolved experiences from the past that continue to affect how you feel, think, or respond today.

EMDR has been extensively researched and is recognized as an evidence-based treatment for PTSD by leading national and international health organizations, including the World Health Organization, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. It has also been recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as an evidence-based trauma treatment.

The Eight Phases of EMDR

Phase 1: Understanding Your History

We discuss what brings you to therapy, what is happening in your life now, and which experiences or patterns may be contributing to your distress. Together, we begin identifying what you would like to change and what may be most helpful to address.

Phase 2: Preparation

Before we begin processing difficult material, I help you develop strategies for staying present and managing whatever may come up during and between sessions. We also discuss the different forms of bilateral stimulation—including guided eye movements, alternating tactile stimulation, or alternating sounds—and choose the method that feels like the best fit for you.

Phase 3: Choosing a Target

Together, we choose a specific memory or situation to work on. I will ask you to notice the emotions, physical sensations, and beliefs connected to it, as well as what you would prefer to believe about yourself instead.

Phase 4: Processing the Memory

While you briefly bring up different parts of the memory, we begin using bilateral stimulation.

Throughout the process, I carefully monitor your responses and check in with you. The goal is for one part of your attention to remain connected to the present and aware that you are here with me, while another part notices the memory and whatever comes up next. This helps prevent you from becoming so absorbed in the experience that it feels as though you are reliving it.

You do not have to analyze everything or describe every detail out loud. I guide the process as your brain begins making new connections and processing the experience in a different way.

Phase 5: Strengthening a More Helpful Belief

As the memory becomes less distressing, we strengthen a belief that feels more accurate and supportive, such as “I am safe now,” “I did the best I could,” or “I have choices.”

Phase 6: Checking in with the Body

I ask you to think about the memory and notice whether any tension, discomfort, or physical reaction remains. If something is still there, we may spend additional time processing it.

Phase 7: Closing the Session

Before the session ends, we pause and make sure you feel grounded and able to return to the rest of your day. If the memory has not been fully processed, I help you safely set the work aside until we continue.

Phase 8: Reviewing Progress

At the beginning of the next session, we check in on what you have noticed since our last appointment. We review whether the memory still feels distressing, what has changed, and what may need further attention.

The Goal of EMDR

EMDR does not erase memories or make you forget what happened. Instead, it can help reduce the emotional intensity connected to a memory so that it feels more like something that happened in the past, rather than something your mind and body are still reacting to in the present.

The goal is not to make the past disappear. It is to help the past feel less present.