Sometimes insight isn’t enough to create lasting change.
Many people who seek EMDR come at different points in their healing journey. Some have spent time in therapy and understand their patterns, can name their triggers, and have learned ways to cope. Others are newer to therapy and simply know that something from the past continues to show up in the present. In both cases, the nervous system may still react as if the past is happening now. Anxiety flares, emotions feel overwhelming or flat, and certain experiences remain “stuck,” despite your best efforts.
EMDR offers a way to work with these experiences at a deeper level. Rather than focusing only on insight or coping strategies, EMDR supports the nervous system in processing unresolved experiences so they can gradually lose their charge.
Hi, I'm Suzanne Cross, LCSW
Who is EMDR therapy for?
Maybe you've tried traditional talk therapy but it didn't provide the relief you were hoping for. Or maybe you're looking for a proven effective tool for healing trauma and achieving your mental health goals. EMDR therapy can:
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Reduce Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Symptoms
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Help Process Childhood and Adult Trauma
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Improve Emotional Regulation
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Reduce Stress, Anxiety and Depression
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Reduce Chronic Pain
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Promote Positive Self-Perception
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Increase Overall Well-being
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Help Build Healthy Relationships
What is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy?
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy approach that utilizes the brain's natural capacity to heal and helps alleviate symptoms associated with distressing childhood or recent experiences.
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EMDR helps clients heal traumatic memories by stimulating both sides of the brain, which facilitates the reprocessing and desensitization of emotionally disturbing events, helping to reduce the emotional charge and increase your capacity to self soothe and feel empowered in your life and relationships.
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EMDR has been extensively researched and is recognized as an effective treatment for trauma, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, personality disorders and other mental health conditions. EMDR is effective in both in-person and virtual therapy.
How does EMDR work?
The founder of EMDR Therapy, Francine Shapiro, discovered the brain's natural capacity for healing distressing experiences during a walk in the park, when she noticed traumatic memories and disturbing emotions rapidly disappearing and changing as her eyes spontaneously moved back and forth. During an EMDR session, your therapist will guide you through bilateral stimulation techniques—often guided eye movements, taps, or sounds—which rapidly activate both hemispheres of the brain. As Francine Shapiro discovered that day in the park, this stimulation elicits the brain's capacity to process and heal the distressing and traumatic memories within, creating lasting change in your emotions, thoughts, life and relationships.
What are the 8 phases of EMDR?
1. History Taking and Treatment Planning
The beginning phase of EMDR involves gathering detailed information about your history, current symptoms, difficult thoughts and emotions, and experiences. During this phase, the therapist assesses your background, identifies target memories for processing, and develops a tailored treatment plan.
2. Preparation
In the preparation phase, the therapist helps you understand the EMDR process and establishes a sense of safety and trust. The therapist explains the procedures, including the use of bilateral stimulation, and introduces coping strategies to manage any distress that may arise during sessions.
3. Assessment
During the assessment phase, you and your therapist identify and focus on specific negative beliefs and memories associated with the trauma. You will recall the traumatic life event and related negative beliefs, while your therapist helps you formulate positive, adaptive beliefs to replace the negative ones.
4. Desensitization
The desensitization phase involves the use of bilateral stimulation (such as guided eye movements) to elicit the brain's natural capacity to process and reduce the emotional charge associated with the traumatic event or experience. As you focus on the memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, the brain’s natural processing mechanisms are activated, leading to a gradual decrease in distress and a shift in perception of the trauma.
5. Installation
In the installation phase, the focus shifts to strengthening and reinforcing positive beliefs that were identified during the assessment phase. The therapist helps you integrate these positive beliefs into your cognitive framework while continuing the use of bilateral stimulation.
6. Body Scan
The body scan phase involves asking you to focus on the traumatic event and new associated positive beliefs while scanning your body for any residual tension, fear or discomfort.
7. Closure
During the closure phase, the therapist helps you return to a state of equilibrium and ensure that you feel stable before ending the session. The therapist guides you through relaxation techniques and reinforces coping strategies learned during the preparation phase. This phase helps the therapist to stabilize you and provide a sense of safety, ensuring that you are grounded and ready to resume normal activities in your life.
8. Reevaluation
The reevaluation phase occurs in subsequent sessions to assess the progress made and determine the effectiveness of the EMDR treatment. The therapist reviews the changes in your symptoms, tracks changing emotions and thoughts, reassesses the previously targeted memories, and addresses any new issues or residual distress.
Frequently Asked Questions about EMDR
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