Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) sounds almost too strange to be true—the idea that moving your eyes back and forth while thinking about trauma can heal psychological wounds seems implausible. Yet EMDR has become one of the most researched and validated treatments for trauma and PTSD, recommended by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, and numerous other bodies. What is this therapy, and how does it work?
EMDR has become one of the most researched and validated treatments for trauma and PTSD, recommended by the World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association.
The Discovery of EMDR
EMDR was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. As the story goes, Shapiro noticed that her own disturbing thoughts seemed to diminish when her eyes moved rapidly back and forth while walking through a park. This observation led her to systematically explore the phenomenon and eventually develop a full therapeutic protocol.
From Skepticism to Validation
Initial skepticism was understandable—the mechanism seemed too simple, too strange. But as research accumulated, EMDR proved remarkably effective. Today, over 30 randomized controlled trials support its use for PTSD, with many clients experiencing significant improvement in just a few sessions.
How Trauma Gets Stuck
To understand how EMDR works, we first need to understand how trauma affects the brain. Normally, when we experience events, our brain processes them during sleep and while awake, integrating them into our general memory system. The experience becomes a memory—something that happened in the past that we can recall without distress.
When Processing Fails
Traumatic experiences can disrupt this processing. The memory gets stored in a raw, unprocessed form, complete with the vivid sensory details, emotions, and body sensations from the original event. When something triggers this memory, we do not just remember the trauma—we re-experience it. The past intrudes into the present as flashbacks, nightmares, and intense emotional reactions.
The EMDR Process
EMDR appears to help the brain process these stuck memories. During EMDR, you briefly focus on a traumatic memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation—typically eye movements following the therapist is fingers, but sometimes taps or sounds that alternate between left and right sides.
How Sessions Progress
Sets of bilateral stimulation are interspersed with brief check-ins about what you are experiencing. Most people notice the memory changing—becoming less vivid, less emotionally charged, or shifting in how they understand it. Negative beliefs about themselves connected to the trauma often transform into more adaptive beliefs.
The Eight-Phase Protocol
EMDR follows a structured eight-phase protocol:
- History taking: Understanding your background and identifying memories to target.
- Preparation: Learning about EMDR and developing resources for managing distress.
- Assessment: Identifying specific elements of the target memory—image, negative belief, emotions, body sensations.
- Desensitization: Processing the memory through bilateral stimulation until distress decreases.
- Installation: Strengthening positive beliefs associated with the memory.
- Body scan: Checking for residual physical tension.
- Closure: Returning to calm equilibrium.
- Reevaluation: Checking progress in subsequent sessions.
Why Does It Work?
The exact mechanism of EMDR is still debated, but several theories have emerged:
Leading Theories
Working memory theory: Holding a memory in mind while doing a demanding task (like following eye movements) taxes working memory, making the memory less vivid and emotional.
REM sleep connection: The eye movements may mimic the rapid eye movements during REM sleep, the phase when the brain naturally processes memories and emotions.
Orienting response: Bilateral stimulation may trigger a relaxation response that counters the fight-or-flight activation associated with trauma memories.
Interhemispheric communication: The bilateral nature may enhance communication between brain hemispheres, facilitating integration of traumatic material.
What EMDR Can Treat
While EMDR is best known for PTSD, it is effective for a range of conditions:
- Single-incident trauma (accidents, assaults, disasters)
- Complex trauma from childhood abuse or neglect
- Anxiety disorders and phobias
- Depression, especially when linked to past experiences
- Grief and loss
- Performance anxiety
- Addiction (addressing underlying trauma)
What to Expect
EMDR can be intense. You are deliberately activating disturbing memories, which can bring up strong emotions. However, good EMDR therapists pace the work carefully, ensuring you have resources to manage whatever arises. You remain in control throughout—you can stop at any time.
A Different Kind of Therapy
Many people find EMDR easier than traditional talk therapy because you do not have to describe your trauma in detail. The processing happens largely internally, with only brief verbal check-ins.
Rapid Results
Results can be surprisingly rapid. Some people experience significant relief from a single traumatic memory in one to three sessions. Complex trauma typically requires longer treatment, but the pace is often faster than years of traditional therapy.
Some people experience significant relief from a single traumatic memory in just one to three sessions—a pace far faster than traditional therapy.
Is EMDR Right for You?
If you are struggling with trauma, PTSD, or distressing memories that will not fade, EMDR is worth considering. It is a well-researched, effective treatment that can produce lasting change. The unusual mechanism should not deter you—strange as it seems, it works.
At Eden Vale, we offer EMDR as part of our comprehensive treatment programs. Our trained EMDR therapists can help you determine if this approach is appropriate for your needs and integrate it effectively into your overall treatment plan.