EMDR

Traumatic experiences can continue to affect the way we think, feel, and respond long after the experience itself has ended. You may understand logically that you are safe now, while your mind and body continue to react as though the threat is still present.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy designed to help people process distressing experiences and reduce the emotional intensity associated with traumatic memories.

At Evidence Based Treatment Collaborative, we provide EMDR therapy for individuals experiencing trauma-related symptoms, PTSD, anxiety, and other difficulties connected to painful or overwhelming experiences.

What Is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.

During EMDR therapy, the therapist helps you identify distressing memories, beliefs, emotions, and physical sensations associated with an experience. While focusing on aspects of the memory, you engage in bilateral stimulation—often through guided eye movements, tapping, or other forms of alternating stimulation.

The goal is not to erase the memory. Instead, EMDR helps the brain process the experience so that the memory becomes less emotionally overwhelming and less likely to trigger intense reactions in the present.

Many people describe knowing intellectually that something is over while still feeling emotionally or physically as though it is happening. EMDR is designed to help bridge that gap.

What Can EMDR Help Treat?

EMDR is best known for its use in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it may also be helpful when past experiences contribute to current emotional or behavioral difficulties.

EMDR may be used to address:

• PTSD and trauma-related disorders

• Childhood trauma

• Sexual assault or abuse

• Medical trauma

• Traumatic loss

• Accidents or injuries

• Relationship trauma

• Distressing or frightening experiences

• Anxiety connected to previous events

• Negative beliefs about yourself that developed following traumatic experiences

• Strong emotional or physical reactions to reminders of the past

Not everyone who benefits from trauma treatment identifies a single catastrophic event. Repeated experiences of fear, rejection, instability, humiliation, or other distressing experiences can also shape how a person responds in the present.

Symptoms of Trauma and PTSD

Trauma can affect people in many different ways. Some individuals experience vivid memories or nightmares, while others notice avoidance, emotional numbness, irritability, anxiety, or difficulty trusting others.

Trauma-related symptoms may include:

• Intrusive memories or flashbacks

• Nightmares

• Avoidance of reminders of the experience

• Feeling constantly on guard

• Being easily startled

• Difficulty sleeping

• Irritability or anger

• Shame or guilt

• Emotional numbness

• Anxiety or panic

• Difficulty concentrating

• Strong physical reactions to reminders

• Negative beliefs about yourself or the world

• Difficulty feeling safe even when there is no immediate danger

What Happens During EMDR Therapy?

EMDR is a structured treatment rather than simply using eye movements during traditional talk therapy.

Treatment typically begins with assessment, treatment planning, and preparation. Your therapist will work with you to understand your history, identify treatment goals, and develop strategies for managing distress before beginning trauma processing.

When appropriate, EMDR processing involves briefly focusing on aspects of a distressing memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation. Your therapist guides the process and helps you notice changes in thoughts, emotions, images, and physical sensations.

Over time, the memory may become less distressing and previously held beliefs—such as “I am unsafe,” “It was my fault,” or “I am powerless”—may shift toward more adaptive perspectives.

Do I Have to Talk About Everything That Happened?

One reason some people are interested in EMDR is that treatment does not necessarily require describing every detail of a traumatic experience at length.

Your therapist still needs enough information to understand what you are experiencing and provide safe and appropriate treatment, but EMDR differs from therapies that rely heavily on repeatedly recounting the entire traumatic event.

Your therapist can discuss what the process would involve before you decide whether EMDR feels like an appropriate treatment for you.

Is EMDR Right for Everyone?

EMDR can be highly effective, but trauma treatment should be individualized.

Before beginning trauma processing, your therapist will assess factors such as your current symptoms, safety, emotional regulation abilities, treatment history, and overall stability.

For some individuals, beginning immediately with trauma processing is appropriate. Others benefit from first developing additional coping and emotion-regulation skills.

At EBTC, our clinicians are trained in evidence-based approaches and can help determine which treatment—or combination of treatments—best fits your needs.

EMDR and DBT

For individuals who experience both trauma-related symptoms and significant difficulty regulating emotions, EMDR may sometimes be incorporated into a broader treatment plan in Stage 2, that includes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

DBT can help individuals develop skills for managing intense emotions, tolerating distress, improving relationships, and reducing behaviors that interfere with treatment or quality of life.

Once sufficient stability has been established, trauma-focused treatment may be considered when clinically appropriate.

This allows treatment to address not only how someone manages difficult emotions in the present, but also experiences from the past that may continue to contribute to those reactions.

EMDR Therapy at Evidence Based Treatment Collaborative

Our goal is to provide thoughtful, evidence-based treatment rather than applying the same approach to every person who has experienced trauma.

Treatment begins with a comprehensive assessment so that we can understand your symptoms, history, goals, and current needs. If EMDR is appropriate, your therapist will work collaboratively with you to develop a treatment plan and prepare you for the trauma-processing phase of treatment.

For some individuals, EMDR may be the primary treatment. For others, it may be one component of a broader treatment plan.

Get Started With EMDR Therapy

If past experiences continue to affect your emotions, relationships, sense of safety, or daily life, effective treatment is available.

Contact Evidence Based Treatment Collaborative to learn more about EMDR therapy and determine whether one of our clinicians may be a good fit for you.