Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), is a tried and true somatic therapy that focuses on trauma recovery. EMDR piggy backs on our body’s natural information processing system, eye movement during REM sleep, to help us process “stuck” memories in a controlled and intentional way.
In our first session, we will not be jumping straight into those intense memories or even eye movements. We’ll build our relationship, take a history of your life, conceptualize what it is we want to focus on, and then we’d get into eye movements.
During eye movements, we process traumatic memories or negative beliefs about ourselves. We also begin to shift and work towards positive beliefs about ourselves in the second half of EMDR. The goal is to help you feel more empowered at the end of the treatment.
What Can EMDR Help With?
Common Experiences People Seek EMDR For:
Single incident trauma (ex: car accident, natural disaster, etc).
Complex or Childhood Trauma (ex: chronic or ongoing emotional, physical, sexual abuse and neglect).
Grief and loss: Complicated or unexpected losses.
Conditions that EMDR Can Help Treat:
Anxiety or panic attacks
Depression
Anger
Grief
Phobias
Sleep Problems
PTSD (acute and complex)
Low-self esteem
Performance anxiety
The 8 EMDR Phases
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Phase 1: Client History & Treatment Planning
This initial stage focuses on exploring your full history and determining whether EMDR is the right for you. This phase is also for identifying the experiences, memories, or “targets” that may be addressed throughout treatment.
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Phase 2: Preparation
The second phase offers a “sneak peek” at what eye-movements and other forms of bilateral stimulation may look like. We’ll practice these techniques while also building resources and creating a safe, calm space to return to throughout the process.
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Phase 3: Assessment
This is where we begin focusing on a specific target. We’ll identify an image, thought, and emotion connected to the experience. You’ll also be asked to rate how intense the distress feels using a 0–10 Subjective Units of Distress (SUDs) scale, as well as how true a positive belief feels using a 1–7 Validity of Cognition (VOC) scale. These ratings help us track your experience throughout the EMDR process.
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Phase 4: Desensitization
During this stage, you’ll focus on the memory while using eye movements or another form of bilateral stimulation, such as tapping, the butterfly hug, or auditory input. You’ll notice and share any new thoughts, emotions, or sensations that arise, and we’ll continue the process until the memory feels significantly less distressing.
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Phase 5: Installation
During installation, we’ll focus on strengthening positive beliefs and feelings through continued eye movements. This helps reinforce the more adaptive thoughts and beliefs you want to carry forward.
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Phase 6: Body Scan
Part of EMDR involves increasing your awareness and connection with your body. You’ll be asked to observe how your body responds to the “target” and share any lingering discomfort, tension, or distress.
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Phase 7: Closure
Depending on how the session went, we’ll either wrap up the memory and send it on its way, or prepare to continue working with it in a future session. If we need to return to it, we’ll close the session with intentionality and some visualization exercises to try and keep it from lingering too much in between sessions.
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Phase 8: Re-Evaluation
Phase 8 happens in the next session. We’ll check in how you’re feeling emotionally and physically, then decide together whether to continue working with the previous target or move forward to a new one.
What to Expect
EMDR is incredibly structured, I will be with you every step of the way. You’re not jumping in the deep end without a life preserver!
❋ Intentional Structure
A natural part of EMDR is a lot of visualization, whether it’s through a meditative exercise or imaging the target we’re focusing on. That imaginative part of your brain will be exercised.
❋ Creativity and Stillness
You may feel really tired, have vivid dreams, or feel more emotionally raw. Part of our care together, is creating a toolbox of skills to you to use, if those after effects, feel too intense.
❋ After Session
Frequently Asked Questions
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The answer is; it depends! The speed at which EMDR therapy “works” is dependent on the person. Factors that influence speediness could be severity of trauma, the individual response to treatment and nuances in processing.
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Absolutely. While EMDR is very structured, the nature of it allows for it be adapted to other conditions like depression, anxiety, OCD and substance use.
Still have questions? Visit the full FAQ page or reach out directly.