What is EMDR, and Why Do We Like It?
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
If you have been researching trauma therapy online, there is a good chance you have come across something called EMDR therapy. Maybe a friend recommended it to you. Maybe your therapist mentioned it. Or maybe you found yourself down a Reddit rabbit hole at 2 a.m., wondering, “Does EMDR actually work? Look no further!
This blog entry will tell you our answers to the following questions:
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a therapy commonly used to help people process trauma and distressing experiences.
Instead of simply talking about a traumatic event,
"EMDR invites clients to notice the thoughts, emotions, and body sensations connected to the experience while engaging in something called bilateral stimulation (BLS). Bilateral stimulation is anything that creates a rhythmic “left side, right side, left side, right side” pattern in the brain"
Some people prefer eye movements, while others prefer tapping on their legs or arms, or alternating sounds through headphones.
During EMDR, clients notice their internal experience and observe how it changes over time. The bilateral stimulation acts as a processing tool that can help the brain move through difficult experiences more efficiently than talking alone.
While everyone responds differently, many clients report that memories begin to feel more distant, less emotionally intense, and less physically overwhelming. Some people notice reduced body tension, decreased shame, and greater compassion toward themselves after processing.
How is EMDR Different From Talk Therapy?
Many clients tell us that when they previously tried to treat trauma through talk therapy alone, they struggled to fully connect with the emotions and body sensations connected to the experience. Trauma is not only stored in thoughts and memories. It can also remain stuck in the nervous system.
"EMDR goes beyond traditional talk therapy and even beyond standard exposure therapy by incorporating bilateral stimulation into the healing process."
When we say “process” a traumatic experience, we literally mean noticing thoughts, emotions, and body sensations while engaging in bilateral stimulation and observing how those experiences change over time. EMDR helps clients move through the emotional and nervous system responses attached to the experience.
Why Do Therapists Like EMDR?
When we talk to other therapists, we often agree that watching clients go from experiencing high distress to eventual relief can be a fascinating and rewarding process to witness. Many therapists are drawn to EMDR because it helps clients connect with emotions, body sensations, and nervous system responses that may not fully shift through insight alone.
"It can be incredibly meaningful to watch shame decrease, self-compassion emerge, and memories begin to feel less emotionally overwhelming over time."
Many therapists also appreciate that EMDR can help clients who feel “stuck” despite being highly insightful or self-aware. Some clients understand exactly why they react the way they do, yet their nervous system still responds as though the danger is happening in the present moment. EMDR can help bridge the gap between intellectual understanding and emotional processing.
Why Do Clients Like EMDR?
Clients often describe EMDR as feeling different from traditional talk therapy. While everyone’s experience is unique, many people report feeling lighter after processing difficult experiences. Some clients notice that memories no longer feel as emotionally overwhelming or physically activating as they once did. Others describe finally feeling hopeful or able to move forward.
In session, clients often report the following shifts:
“I feel really heavy” to “I feel lighter.”
“I am not safe,” to “I feel like I’m going to be okay.”
“It’s my fault,” to “It’s not my fault.”
“I feel a tightening in my chest” to“The chest tension is gone.”
Clients also share with us how they feel a reduction in shame and an increase in confidence. They report noticing their confidence in how they behave out in the world and with their loved ones.
For many people, EMDR can help shift trauma from something that feels emotionally and physically present into something that feels processed, understood, and no longer in control of their daily lives.
Is EMDR Intense?
One of the most common fears clients have before starting EMDR is worrying that they will be overwhelmed by emotions or memories they do not have the capacity to handle. This is one of the reasons why the early stages of EMDR therapy are so important.
Before trauma processing begins, therapists spend time helping clients build coping tools and resourcing strategies that can support them throughout the process. These strategies are designed to help clients feel more grounded, regulated, and supported as they move through difficult experiences.
"Good EMDR therapy focuses heavily on preparation, pacing, and helping the nervous system remain within a manageable range during processing."
When clients feel appropriately resourced before beginning trauma processing, they often report that EMDR feels smoother and far less intimidating than they originally expected. EMDR is not about throwing someone into trauma before they are ready.
Does EMDR Actually Work?
We have witnessed clients process deeply distressing experiences and move toward relief, clarity, reduced shame, and a greater sense of self-compassion right before our eyes.
At the same time, there continues to be discussion within the scientific community about exactly how effective EMDR is and which parts of the therapy contribute most to its outcomes. While EMDR has a structured protocol grounded in science, effective trauma therapy often requires flexibility, clinical judgment, and adaptation to the individual nervous system sitting in front of you.
"In our opinion, the challenge of researching EMDR is that EMDR is best practiced as both a science and an art."
The research environment doesn't allow for this flexibility that we believe makes EMDR as effective as we have seen it to be. In more complex trauma presentations, for example, therapists may need to spend significantly more time resourcing, slowing down processing, or incorporating interventions to address severe distress,
dissociation, or nervous system overwhelm. We believe this flexibility is part of what makes EMDR effective in real-world clinical settings.
Final Thoughts
Trauma therapy is not about erasing memories or pretending painful things never happened. Healing often looks more like reducing the emotional and nervous system burden that those experiences continue to carry in the present.
For many people, EMDR can become part of that healing process.
At Heal With Me Psychology, we approach trauma work collaboratively, thoughtfully, and at a pace that respects the complexity of each person’s experiences and nervous system.
If you would like to learn more about how we may be able to help you with EMDR, don’t hesitate to book a 15-minute complimentary consultation with Alexis Haws or Gemma Reynolds.