EMDR Therapy — What It Is & Who It’s For
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps the brain process and release distressing experiences that feel “stuck.” Trauma can overwhelm the nervous system and interrupt the brain’s natural healing process, leaving memories stored in a way that continues to trigger distress long after the event has passed. EMDR works by using the brain’s natural healing process through bilatural stimluation (eye movements, tapping, or tones).
EMDR can be especially effective for people who:
- Have experienced single-incident or complex trauma
- Feel triggered by reminders that don’t match the present moment
- Experience intrusive memories, flashbacks, or emotional overwhelm
- Notice trauma showing up in the body (panic, shutdown, tension, dissociation)
- Have done talk therapy but feel insight alone hasn’t led to lasting relief
EMDR is often a good fit for clients who want to process a disressing memory or trauma without needing to retell every detail of their experiences.
EMDR follows a phased approach, beginning with building safety, stabilization, and coping resources. When you’re ready, sessions involve briefly activating a memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation. This allows the brain to reprocess the experience so it becomes less distressing and more integrated over time.
Podcasts
Podcast Specific Episodes
Basic Components of EMDR Therapy
Books
Getting Past Your Past by Francine Shapiro
EMDR Essentials: A Guide for Clients and Therapists by Barb Meiberger
Attachment-Focused EMDR: Healing Relational Trauma by Laurel Parnell
Tapping In by Laurel Parnell
Healing Roots Trauma Therapy 