What is EMDR?
If you’ve ever felt “stuck” in painful memories, anxiety, or patterns that don’t seem to shift, despite talking about them, there’s a reason. Some experiences don’t fully process in the brain the way they should, and they can continue to affect how we think, feel, and respond in daily life.
This is where Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can help.
What is EMDR?
EMDR is an extensively researched evidence-based therapy designed to help your brain process and heal from distressing experiences. It was originally developed to treat trauma, but it’s now widely used for a variety of issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, phobias, and even performance blocks
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require you to go into detail about everything that happened. Instead, it helps your brain “unstick” memories that are stored in a distressing way.
How Does EMDR Work?
When something overwhelming happens, your brain’s natural processing system can get disrupted. Instead of the memory being filed away as something in the past, it can feel like it’s still happening emotionally or physically.
EMDR uses gentle, guided techniques often involving eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to help your brain reprocess distressing memories. Over time, the emotional intensity decreases, and the memory begins to feel more distant and manageable.
It is currently hypothesized that bilateral stimulation supports this process in several ways. It taxes the brain’s working memory, which can reduce how vivid and emotionally charged the memory feels. It also activates the brain’s natural orienting response, the system that scans for safety—helping you recognize that you are safe in the present moment. As a result, the body can begin to shift into a calmer, more regulated (parasympathetic) state. Some researchers also suggest that EMDR processing can elicit similar processes to what occurs during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, when the brain naturally processes and integrates experiences.
Many clients describe it as:
“The memory is still there, but it doesn’t feel charged anymore.”
“I can think about it without being overwhelmed.”
“It finally feels like it’s in the past.”
What Can EMDR Help With?
EMDR can be effective for a wide range of concerns, including:
Post Trauma Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma, and stress related issues
Anxiety and panic, and phobias
Depression
Pain
Burnout
Chronic Illness and medical issues
Negative self-beliefs (“I’m not good enough,” “I’m not safe”)
Grief and loss
You don’t need to have experienced a major trauma for EMDR to be helpful—many people use it to work through everyday experiences that have had a lasting impact.
What Happens in a Session
EMDR is a collaborative and paced process. We always begin by building a sense of safety and grounding before moving into any memory work.
During reprocessing, you’ll briefly focus on a memory while following a set of guided eye movements (or another form of bilateral stimulation such as alternating hand tapping). You’ll simply notice what comes up—thoughts, feelings, or body sensations, while your brain does the work of processing.
You are always in control, and we go at a pace that feels comfortable for you.
Is EMDR Right for You?
If you’ve tried to “think your way through” something and still feel stuck, EMDR may offer a different path forward. It works with your brain’s natural healing ability rather than against it.
Healing doesn’t always have to mean reliving everything—it can also mean gently allowing your mind and body to process what’s already there.