About EMDR Therapy
What is EMDR Therapy?
When something distressing happens, your brain and body are designed to process it and move forward. Sometimes, that natural healing process gets interrupted - the memory, emotions, and physical sensations stay stuck, leaving you anxious, reactive, or on edge long after the event has passed. Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a structured, evidence-based approach that helps your brain complete that interrupted healing process.
During EMDR, you will briefly focus on a distressing memory while engaging in gentle rhythmic stimulation (like eye movements, tapping, or sounds), that activate both sides of the brain. This process allows the brain to reprocess the memory so it's no longer emotionally charging or triggering. You still remember what happened, but it stops defining how you see yourself, your relationships, or the world. Over time, the past begins to feel like the past. You start responding to life from a place of calm, clarity, and choice - rather than from survival.​​​​​​​​​
​Who can benefit from EMDR?
You might not think of yourself as someone who’s “been through trauma.”
But trauma isn’t just what happened - it’s what stayed inside of you after it did.
EMDR can be helpful for anyone who feels stuck in patterns of anxiety, shame, or emotional reactivity, including those who are navigating:
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Post-traumatic stress (PTSD and complex trauma)
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Anxiety and panic
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Grief and loss
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Shame, guilt, or self-blame
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Relationship and attachment wounds
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Burnout and emotional overwhelm
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Negative self-beliefs (“I’m not enough,” “I can’t trust anyone”)
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You don’t need a “big trauma” to benefit. EMDR helps your brain process experiences - big or small - that continue to shape how you think, feel, and connect today.​​​​​​​​​
What does EMDR feel like?
EMDR isn’t about reliving the past - it’s about helping your body recognize that it is the past.
You won’t have to go into every detail of your story. Instead, you stay aware and grounded while your brain does the work of reprocessing what’s been stuck.
Clients often describe the process as feeling lighter, clearer, and more at ease - as though their nervous system finally exhaled.
You don’t have to force change through effort or logic.
You just need the right space, support, and tools to let your brain and body do what they were built to do: heal.​​​​​​​​
Where Can I Learn More About EMDR?
If you'd like to understand more about the why behind EMDR, here are a few trusted places to explore the research and science supporting EMDR therapy:
Trusted Organizations
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EMDR International Association (EMDRIA.org) – The official EMDR professional organization, with clear explanations, research summaries, and therapist resources.
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EMDR Institute (EMDR.com) – Founded by EMDR’s creator, Dr. Francine Shapiro. Offers a helpful overview of how EMDR developed and what makes it effective.
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National Center for PTSD (VA.gov) – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ summary of how EMDR helps reduce trauma and post-traumatic stress.
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Key Research & Articles
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Shapiro, F. (1989). Efficacy of the Eye Movement Desensitization Procedure in the Treatment of Traumatic Memories. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2(2), 199–223.
The original research study introducing EMDR and its trauma-reducing effects. -
van der Kolk, B.A., et al. (2007). A Randomized Clinical Trial of EMDR, Fluoxetine, and Placebo in PTSD Treatment. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 68(1), 37–46.
Showed EMDR’s strong and lasting results compared to medication alone. -
Chen, Y.R. et al. (2014). Efficacy of EMDR for PTSD: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. PLOS ONE, 9(8), e103676.
A large-scale analysis confirming EMDR’s effectiveness across multiple studies.
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Recommended Books
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The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
A groundbreaking look at how trauma affects the brain and body - and how therapies like EMDR help people heal. -
Getting Past Your Past by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D.
An easy-to-read guide written by EMDR’s founder, filled with insights and tools for understanding your mind’s natural healing process.