What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an evidence-based therapy designed to help individuals process and release trauma. Francine Shapiro, an American Psychologist, developed it in 1987 based on the premise that our bodies and minds have incredible self-healing mechanisms. Much of this occurs during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycle of sleep. EMDR harnesses this natural process with bilateral stimulation to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories and make them manageable and less overwhelming.

EMDR is one of the most extensively researched trauma therapies available today. Over 19 controlled studies confirm its effectiveness in reducing trauma symptoms. Recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), studies show that EMDR helps reframe trauma more effectively than traditional talk therapy, making it a valuable option for individuals struggling with trauma-related distress.

How Trauma Affects the Brain

The Amygdala is an almond-shaped structure deep inside the brain that is responsible for emotional responses and memory formation. It is part of the Limbic System, which controls how we react to danger. This part of our brain developed over years of evolution from the prehistoric reptilian brain, where its primary function aided the survival of species. The limbic system triggers responses that stimulate reproduction, caring for the young, and fight-or-flight responses.

The brain typically organizes memories in a way that allows us to reflect and move forward. However, trauma can disrupt this process. It overstimulates the amygdala, with consequential impacts on the limbic system. Trauma disrupts memory processing; the traumatic memories become “stuck” in the limbic system. These unprocessed memories continue to resurface with triggers, causing panic, anger, anxiety, flashbacks, and despair long after the original trauma occurred. In summary, experiencing trauma makes the brain more reactive to stressful situations.

This is why trauma survivors often find themselves reacting to situations in ways they don’t fully understand. The past continues to affect the present, making it difficult to engage fully in life. EMDR helps connect and reprocess these fragmented memories so they no longer hold the same emotional intensity.

Racialized Communities & Systemic Oppression

Personal experiences, family history, and systemic forces in society shape trauma in our lives. For racialized individuals and communities, trauma is often interwoven with oppression, discrimination, intergenerational wounds, and community-based distress. EMDR can help process the emotional pain of racism, discrimination, and microaggressions, allowing individuals to reclaim their identity and self-worth.

Many racialized individuals carry the emotional burdens of their ancestors, passed down through family narratives and lived experiences. EMDR can help reprocess these inherited traumas. Witnessing or experiencing violence, displacement, or economic hardships can lead to chronic distress, and EMDR allows individuals to release stored emotions and reconnect with a sense of safety. Living within oppressive systems can lead to feelings of helplessness and chronic stress. EMDR can empower individuals to regain a sense of agency and resilience.

Conditions EMDR Can Treat

EMDR was originally used to treat single-episode trauma, such as car accidents. Today, this form of therapy is best known for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, it is also very effective for treating chronic and complex issues such as relationship trauma, childhood trauma and developmental trauma, referred to as Complex PTSD.

EMDR therapy helps individuals struggling with anxiety and panic attacks by addressing underlying triggers that heighten their fear responses. It can alleviate symptoms of depression by neutralizing distressing memories that fuel persistent negative emotions. Individuals with phobias can benefit from EMDR by reprocessing past experiences that cause intense fear and avoidance behaviours in the present.

Complicated grief, which can cause prolonged suffering, can be eased through EMDR’s structured approach to memory processing. Attachment wounds and sleep disturbances, often linked to unresolved trauma, can improve as EMDR helps desensitize distressing memories. Addictions and compulsions, which frequently stem from unprocessed emotional pain, can also be effectively treated with EMDR.

Additionally, EMDR has been used to provide pain relief for conditions like phantom limb pain by altering the brain’s perception of pain signals. Performance anxiety and self-esteem issues, often rooted in past negative experiences or criticisms, can be reprocessed through EMDR, helping individuals build confidence and achieve their goals.

What to Expect at EMDR Therapy

We tailor each EMDR session to work with your needs and at your pace. Generally, we book sessions from 60 to 90 minutes. Depending on the complexity of your trauma, your therapist can offer EMDR therapy short-term or long-term. Some individuals notice significant relief within 6-12 sessions, while others with more complex trauma histories may benefit from a longer course of treatment.

EMDR sessions follow an eight-phase structured approach designed to help clients process trauma in a safe and manageable way:

• The first phase involves a discussion where your therapist gains an understanding of your trauma history and sets treatment goals.
• The preparation phase focuses on learning coping strategies and grounding techniques to ensure emotional safety throughout the process.
• In the assessment phase, you work with your therapist to identify specific distressing memories and associated negative beliefs.
• During the desensitization phase, your therapist will use bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, tapping, or sounds, while recalling traumatic events. This allows the brain to naturally reprocess the memory, reducing distress.
• Once desensitization occurs, the installation phase is where you replace negative beliefs with more adaptive and empowering ones.
• During the body scan phase, your therapist will help you assess physical sensations to ensure you have fully processed your trauma.
• The closure phase involves grounding exercises to help you return to the present moment feeling calm and in control.
• Finally, during the reevaluation phase, we ensure you continue to make progress and address any remaining distress.

Is EMDR Right for You?

We provide culturally sensitive trauma therapy that acknowledges your unique lived experiences. If you are struggling with trauma, systemic oppression, or past painful experiences that continue to affect you. EMDR can be a powerful tool in accelerating the healing of trauma. However, it is not suitable for everyone. This type of therapy requires you to recall distressing memories; you must feel ready to engage in this process with appropriate emotional support.

We offer a free 20-minute consultation and encourage you to contact us to determine whether EMDR will be suitable intervention for you.