EMDR Therapy

What to Expect in EMDR Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people heal from trauma and emotional distress. It works by reprocessing difficult memories in a way that allows your brain and body to feel more calm, clear, and connected.

Here’s what the process will look like:

1. History & Treatment Planning

We’ll start by discussing your background and identifying experiences that may still be causing distress. We’ll also explore your personal strengths and support systems to guide your healing journey.

2. Preparation

We’ll build a trusting relationship and talk about how EMDR works. I’ll answer your questions and show you techniques to help manage any strong emotions that may come up during or between sessions.

3. Assessment

Together, we’ll choose a memory to focus on and explore the images, thoughts, emotions, and body sensations connected to it. We’ll also check how upsetting the memory feels and how strongly you believe in positive thoughts about yourself.

4. Desensitization

While you think about the memory, we’ll begin bilateral stimulation (like eye movements or tapping) to help your brain reprocess the experience. Over time, the distress will begin to lessen, and new, more helpful thoughts and feelings may come up.

5. Installation

We’ll work on strengthening a positive belief about yourself (e.g., “I am safe now” or “I am strong”) that you’d like to connect with the memory. We’ll repeat the bilateral stimulation to help this belief feel completely true.

6. Body Scan

You’ll be asked to hold both the memory and the positive belief in mind, while noticing how your body feels. If there’s any leftover tension or discomfort, we’ll work through it together using more bilateral stimulation.

7. Closure

Each session will end with time to help you feel calm and grounded. Even if we don’t finish processing a memory in one session, we’ll make sure you leave feeling safe and supported.

8. Reevaluation

At the beginning of our next session, we’ll check in on how things have been since the last time. We’ll make sure past memories are still feeling resolved and talk about the next steps in your healing process.