What is EMDR and How Can it Help Me?
- Rhianon Brady
- May 31
- 5 min read
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing which is science talk for using bilateral movement to bring both sides of the brain online to process traumatic memories or problematic beliefs more effectively.
What happens to my body during traumatic or chaotic times?
Basically, when your body experiences trauma it’s too much too fast. There is too much going on for your body to be able to understand, so parts of your brain and body shut down so that the survival brain can take over. This means lots of memories, sensations, or beliefs related to traumas get stuck in the past tense while you’re forced to keep moving forward. This is why stories from childhood may seem so loud, feelings from that event won’t leave your gut, and beliefs about your worth may be so debilitating. When all parts of our brain are online, we can look at memories with more accuracy and grounded perspective.
The Facts About EMDR
EMDR is an 8 phase intensive trauma treatment that can be conducted in intensive or weekly therapeutic models depending on the client’s goals and readiness for trauma processing.
Mimicking Nature Cycles
EMDR replicates REM sleep which is the brain’s natural process of organizing information in our brains while we rest. You may have witnessed a pet’s or loved one’s REM cycle when their eyes start twitching or rolling while they are taking a little snooze. We replicate this cycle while thoroughly mapping out targets paired with assessments to see which phase of EMDR appropriate for your nervous system.
Bilateral Stimulation
EMDR uses tapping, eye movement, marching, vibration, or sound as a bilateral stimulation (BLS) method to bring all parts of the brain online. In my sessions, I practice with an EMDR kit that offers tappers, a light bar, and headphones for clients to find which form of BLS works best for their nervous systems. My clients also learn how to use BLS to support their coping outside of our sessions.
Mapping Targets
EMDR will require us to choose a “target” to focus on which is basically a sensation, image, thought, incident, etc. which will be our entry point into your memory map (or neural network). A target could look like: “The tension I feel when I walk inside of my home”, “The fear I feel getting behind the wheel after the accident”, or “The worthlessness that I feel in relationships”. Your EMDR trained clinician should help you identify targets as this is a collaborative process.
Who Is EMDR For?
Those with PTSD or Impacts of Trauma
Folks with Anxiety and Panic
Chronic Pain warriors
Peeps diagnosed with Depression
People navigating Low Self-Worth
Those with Sleep disturbances such as nightmares or insomnia
Clients with Disordered Eating Patterns
Grieving souls
Humans with Dysregulated Constantly on High Alert Nervous Systems
Anyone! *Resourcing is certainly for everyone. However, processing a trauma or event will require a certain amount of emotional resilience that will be assessed in your intake session.
Benefits of EMDR
EMDR is an evidence based therapy designed to support in the treatment of several mental health diagnoses. Here are just a few of the lasting benefits:
Available In Person and Telehealth
In Person: Depending on which treatment model you choose (weekly, extended sessions, or intensives), there will be a dedicated HIPAA compliant space available for your processing. Intensives often have Airbnb availability to offer more of a 'retreat-style' option. Benefits of in person sessions include your therapist administering BLS for you, co-regulating in real time, and having a designated space designed for your processing in mind free of distractions.
Telehealth: Deep healing accessible from your own bedroom if you so choose! Benefits of telehealth EMDR sessions include easier accessibility to quality care, working through blocks in the environment they are occurring in, and less cost related to traveling expenses. *All teleheath clients must maintain HIPAA compliant spaces in order to participate in virtual EMDR therapy
Accelerate Trauma Processing
"EMDR Is like a gas pedal for processing": Bringing on all parts of your brain helps you look at events with a different perspective and access more adaptive (positive or balanced) information.
Rapid Relief: EMDR allows us to move through stuck material that would normally take months to years of talk therapy due to less reliance on verbal processing.
You Say As Much or As Little As You Want!
BLS Is the Magic: Very different from talk therapy, the thing that is doing the work in EMDR is the bilateral stimulation (BLS). That means that during our processing, it is actually more productive for us to "Go With That" as opposed to verbally processing what's happening in your brain.
Memories Too Big for Words: That's okay! Just keep playing it like a movie and you don't need to tell me any of the details. Many clients feel relief that they don't have to activate their nervous systems by retelling intense stories.
Reduced Emotional Mindedness/Distress
More Resilience: Following EMDR, client report feeling more settled in their bodies, curious in relationships, and aware of the roles they play in patterns that cause disturbance in their lives.
Less Reactivity: By bringing on all parts of the brain, we take you out of survival mode and allow you to practice living. Many of the clients that I work with report an increased ability to respond instead of react.
Increased Self Worth and More!
Targeting Core Beliefs: In EMDR we identify beliefs about yourself, the world, or previous experiences and replace them with beliefs that serve you better. For instance, If you currently think 'I am not enough', EMDR can help us move that to 'I try my best' and imagine how empowering that shift is!
Resources: Resources are EMDR talk for more positive information in your nervous system. After EMDR, clients walk away with more tools such as ways to feel more secure, access feelings of peace, or gather more ally's to support us.
Challenges of EMDR
I usually tell my clients before we start EMDR, “It is very likely that you won’t have a good day after this”. EMDR is difficult work and can be very emotionally taxing the day of and the few days following processing.
Physical Effects
Some clients report fatigue, muscle soreness, brain fog, and increase of disturbing thoughts/images. I encourage my clients to schedule a light day following EMDR where they are able to rest and avoid more dissociative hobbies. But! After those few days pass, many of my client report feeling lighter and report EMDR is “life-changing” work.
Weekly Therapy Model
Though EMDR often takes less time to see results than traditional talk therapy, we do need time to administer all 8 phases consistently. Due to the limited nature of 60 minute sessions and stop/start nature of weekly therapy, EMDR processing can often be challenging on larger or more complex targets. This is why I provide the Extended Sessions and Intensive model for clients to complete EMDR processing in one go.
EMDR Informed/Trained vs. EMDR Certified
Many clinicians are EMDR trained or informed which can support those with individual traumatic events or less complex targets. However, for clients with more complex traumas, long-standing beliefs related to self, or many different desired targets, it is recommended that these clients seek out an EMDRIA certified provider to provide the most effective level of care.
Conclusion
EMDR is a highly effective treatment to support a number of mental health diagnoses. It uses the body's naturally occurring memory organization process to work with traumatic memories, feelings, or unhelpful beliefs. Clients who are looking for a more in-depth or time-effective treatment may find EMDR a great match. However, it is important for clients to be assessed by an EMDR trained or certified provider to ensure safe and powerful treatment.
If you are curious about EMDR, as a client or as a clinician who wants to grow their skillset, consider scheduling a consultation with me.
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