EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a type of therapy designed to help people process and heal from traumatic memories or distressing experiences. It’s based on the idea that trauma can get “stuck” in the brain, causing intense emotions, anxiety, or flashbacks even long after the event has passed. EMDR is primarily a trauma-focused therapy, but it can also help with depression, anxiety, stress, and grief because these often stem from or are worsened by unresolved traumatic or distressing memories.

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How it works for clients:

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• The therapist guides the client to focus on a traumatic memory while simultaneously using bilateral stimulation (often side-to-side eye movements, taps, or sounds).

• This dual focus helps the brain reprocess the memory, reducing its emotional intensity and helping the person see it in a less overwhelming way.

• Over time, the memory can feel more like a story from the past rather than a present threat.

• Clients often report feeling lighter, calmer, and more in control of thoughts and emotions related to the trauma.

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A helpful metaphor to understand how EMDR works is to imagine your brain is like a filing cabinet. Normally, memories get filed away so you can think about them without feeling overwhelmed. But trauma can cause a memory to get stuck on your desk, messy and unprocessed, making it feel like it’s happening right now every time you think about it.  EMDR is like shaking the filing cabinet while sorting the papers. The bilateral stimulation helps your brain “refile” the memory properly. After EMDR, the memory is still there, but it’s now stored safely in the cabinet. You can look at it without feeling panicked, frozen, or flooded with emotions.

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In short: EMDR helps your brain put traumatic memories in the right place, so they no longer control your emotions or reactions.

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For more information about EMDR 

• Introduction to EMDR Therapy 

• EMDR from a Client Perspective

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