How EMDR Therapy Works: A Guide to Reprocessing Trauma
- Emily Allen
- Apr 1
- 4 min read
Trauma can leave deep emotional wounds, making it difficult to move forward and feel safe in the present. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a powerful, evidence-based treatment designed to help individuals heal from distressing experiences by reprocessing traumatic memories. But how does EMDR work, and what can you expect from the process? This guide breaks it down.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy is a structured, eight-phase approach that helps people process traumatic memories by using bilateral stimulation—such as guided eye movements, tapping, or auditory cues. It was developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and has been extensively researched as an effective treatment for PTSD, anxiety, and other trauma-related conditions.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not require individuals to extensively discuss their trauma. Instead, it focuses on changing how traumatic memories are stored in the brain, reducing their emotional intensity and allowing for adaptive resolution.
How Does EMDR Work? The 8 Phases of Therapy
EMDR therapy follows a structured process that ensures trauma is processed in a safe and controlled way. Here’s what each phase involves:
1. History Taking & Treatment Planning
The therapist gathers information about your history, including past trauma, current symptoms, and goals for treatment. Together, you and your therapist identify specific memories or experiences to target during EMDR sessions.
2. Preparation
Before beginning trauma reprocessing, the therapist helps you develop coping skills and emotional regulation techniques, such as deep breathing, visualization, or grounding exercises. This ensures you feel safe and in control throughout the process.
3. Assessment
The therapist identifies a specific target memory and works with you to explore associated images, beliefs, emotions, and physical sensations. You will also rate the distress level of the memory using a scale called the Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUDs).
4. Desensitization (Reprocessing the Trauma)
During this phase, you focus on the traumatic memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation, typically through eye movements guided by the therapist. This helps your brain process the memory in a new way, reducing its emotional charge. Other forms of stimulation, like tapping or auditory tones, may also be used.
5. Installation
Once the distress of the memory has decreased, the therapist helps you replace negative beliefs with positive, adaptive beliefs. For example, “I am helpless” might be replaced with “I am strong and in control.”
6. Body Scan
Trauma is often stored in the body. In this phase, you check for any lingering physical tension or distress related to the memory. If discomfort remains, additional processing may be needed.
7. Closure
Each session ends with grounding exercises to help you feel safe and present. If reprocessing was not fully completed in one session, your therapist will ensure you have coping strategies to manage any emotions that arise between sessions.
8. Reevaluation
At the start of the next session, you and your therapist review progress, assess changes in distress levels, and determine if further processing is needed. This ensures continued healing and integration of positive beliefs.
Why Does EMDR Work?
Research suggests that traumatic memories are stored in the brain in a way that prevents proper processing, keeping them stuck in a distressing loop. Bilateral stimulation during EMDR mimics the brain’s natural ability to process information, similar to what happens during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This allows the brain to reorganize the memory, reducing its emotional intensity and enabling a healthier perspective.
Benefits of EMDR Therapy vs. Traditional Talk Therapy
EMDR has been widely recognized as an effective and efficient treatment for trauma when compared to traditional talk therapy approaches. Some key benefits include:
Faster symptom relief – Studies show that EMDR can significantly reduce PTSD symptoms in as few as 6–12 sessions, whereas traditional talk therapy may take months or even years to achieve similar results.
Less verbal retraumatization – Unlike talk therapy, which often requires extensive discussion of traumatic events, EMDR allows individuals to process memories without having to verbalize every detail.
Higher success rates – Research indicates that 77-90% of individuals with PTSD experience significant symptom reduction after EMDR therapy, compared to lower success rates with standard cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
Long-lasting results – A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that the benefits of EMDR therapy are sustained over time, with many patients maintaining improvements even years after treatment.
Effective for multiple trauma types – EMDR is beneficial not only for single-event trauma but also for complex PTSD, childhood trauma, and attachment wounds, which can be more resistant to traditional therapies.
Who Can Benefit from EMDR Therapy?
EMDR is widely used to treat:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Childhood trauma and attachment wounds
Anxiety and panic disorders
Phobias and fears
Depression linked to traumatic experiences
Grief and loss
First responders and healthcare professionals dealing with vicarious trauma
What to Expect During EMDR Therapy
Sessions typically last 60-90 minutes.
You don’t need to verbally describe every detail of your trauma.
Emotional processing may continue between sessions, so self-care is important.
Many people notice a significant reduction in distress after just a few sessions.
Final Thoughts
EMDR therapy offers a structured and effective way to heal from trauma, helping individuals move past painful memories and reclaim their lives. If you’ve been struggling with unresolved trauma, anxiety, or distressing memories, EMDR may be a valuable path toward healing.
At Bloom Counseling and Consulting, we specialize in EMDR therapy and trauma-focused treatment. If you're curious about whether EMDR is right for you, reach out to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward healing.
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