EMDR? Why would I want that?
- karengoldschlager
- May 8, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 12
Great question.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) was created to help reduce the symptoms of trauma.
It is a well established, well researched treatment used to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as well as a growing list of other mental health conditions.
But what is EMDR?
EMDR is a therapy that helps the brain to naturally heal and reprocess "stuck" memories.
What do you mean?
We constantly take in information from the world. Generally, this is processed and filed away in long term memory.
Sometimes we have traumatic experiences that are harder to process. This can result from any adverse experience that our minds don't have the capacity to understand and manage.
Example
You travel to a friend's house, nothing extraordinary happens. The memory is filed away.
You take the same journey, but there is a massive earthquake on the way. This experience is harder to process, and may be stored in a raw form along with intense emotions, sensations and beliefs connected to the experience.
Traumatic memories that aren't processed and filed away are more easily activated by cues in our environment. These cues, or triggers, can activate our minds and bodies into fight or flight mode, or into dissociation and shut down.
Our brains are generally exceptional at processing and resolving bad experiences. We have an inbuilt self-healing system for our minds, just like the body's ability to heal smaller cuts and wounds. Normal processing of experiences and trauma occurs during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, journaling,
while talking to others...etc.
Sometimes though, like with a cut, a trauma may be too deep or too large for us to heal without some help.
Maybe because the experience is too overwhelming
Or we don't have the necessary resources to understand and cope with it
Or maybe we are too young, powerless or for any other reason, unable to change and manage the situation
So how does EMDR work?
Guided eye movements, sounds or tapping are most commonly used. They tax peoples' working memory while being guided to think about the traumatic event.
The brain is now competing for resources which blocks activation of its usual trauma response. This allows the natural processing system to kick in and helps the memory to become distanced and desensitised (less activating and detailed).
This might sound a little foreign or strange, but builds on similar process that our brains do naturally. The key difference is that the experience is guided, you are awake, conscious and in control.
Is there more to EMDR than that?
Yes, it can be used as a framework to understand what's going on for you and how your life experiences are connected.
It can also help you to strengthen your coping strategies and positive self beliefs.
After the memory has been reprocessed, there is integration of positive beliefs about yourself and the world, which is linked to the bad experiences.
An example of self healing trauma:
Zoe was shaken by a car accident, even though no one was hurt. For days, she couldn't sleep or eat and felt jumpy, reacting strongly to car sounds. Her brain hadn't processed the accident, making her feel like she was still in danger. Her body's "fight or flight" response was on high alert, which wasn't helpful anymore.
After a week of sleep, talking, and journaling, Zoe's brain naturally processed the memory. The accident then felt like a normal past event, without the strong physical reactions or emotions.
An example of trauma needing help to heal:
Two months later, Zoe was in another car accident with her child. Though no one was hurt, Zoe felt like a bad mother and couldn't stop thinking about what could have happened. She started having nightmares and imagining terrible scenarios.
An old feeling of not being good enough became very strong, making her believe she was a bad mother. This deeply affected her relationships, sleep, and work. This trauma was too connected to her past to heal on its own. EMDR helped her process the accident memories and also helped with her older feelings of inadequacy.
Is it going to hurt? / Any drawbacks?
You will likely experience some uncomfortable emotions especially during reprocessing and in the hours following this. The preparation stage is designed to help prepare for this and assess when you might be ready to move toward reprocessing.
You will be supported through this.
Some people experience tiredness for a day or two after an EMDR session, which is a normal experience while the mind processes information and begins to integrate new learnings.
Healing from trauma can change how you relate to others. For example, if you used to be a people-pleaser, you might start focusing on your own needs. This shift can be hard for the people around you, so it's good to consider this during therapy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What other mental health conditions can be treated by EMDR?
EMDR can be used for many symptoms and conditions. If there is associated trauma or distress, EMDR may be a tool to assist, e.g.;
How many sessions will I need?
The number of sessions you'll need varies from person to person. While some people notice changes in their symptoms early on, trauma is often connected to deep-seated beliefs about yourself and the world, like feeling unsafe or not good enough.
Because of this, it takes time to build coping skills, plan our work together, and then process the difficult memories. After that, we'll also need some time to help new information and positive beliefs integrate.
Is EMDR hypnosis?
EMDR is not hypnosis. While both may sometimes use relaxation and visualisation, clients remain fully conscious and in control during EMDR.
EMDR does not induce a trance or altered state of consciousness and you can pause or stop at any point.
What are some of the benefits of EMDR compared to 'talk therapy'?
There is a significantly reduced emphasis on talking in detail about traumatic experiences.
This approach can be quite structured and focused, encouraging clear treatment goals.
While not necessarily a quick fix, people can sometimes experience symptom relief within a few sessions.
Instead of being seen as 'maladaptive' or dysfunctional, symptoms and presenting problems may be viewed empathetically - as valid survival or coping strategies that no longer serve us.
EMDR can be adapted flexibly for each individual, and used to address cognitive, emotional and somatic (physical / body) symptoms.
EMDR focuses on past, present and future symptoms which can be a comprehensive approach. It seeks to address the root of problems, current triggers and potential future triggers, as well as building resilience and practiced responses to future experiences.
It can also be effectively complemented by many other therapeutic treatments. For example, visualisation techniques; relaxation and mindfulness; Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Schema Therapy.
Where can I learn more?
Official EMDR organisations:
Other sources:
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