EMDR Therapy Explained

By the clinical team at Next Step Psychiatry • Lilburn, GA

What Is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that helps people heal from traumatic experiences and disturbing memories. Developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in 1987, EMDR has become one of the most well-researched and effective treatments for PTSD. The World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, and the Department of Veterans Affairs all recommend EMDR as a first-line treatment for trauma.

What makes EMDR unique is that it doesn’t require you to talk in detail about the traumatic event, complete homework assignments, or challenge your thoughts the way traditional therapy does. Instead, it helps your brain’s natural healing process “unstick” and properly process traumatic memories.

How Does EMDR Work?

During an EMDR session, your therapist guides you to briefly focus on a traumatic memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation—typically side-to-side eye movements, but sometimes tapping or auditory tones. This dual attention appears to reduce the emotional intensity of the memory and help your brain reprocess it.

Think of it this way: when a traumatic memory gets “stuck,” it stays vivid and emotionally charged because it wasn’t properly processed by the brain’s memory system. EMDR helps move that memory from the “raw experience” part of your brain to the “narrative memory” part—so you can remember what happened without being flooded by the original emotions and physical sensations.

The Eight Phases of EMDR Treatment

EMDR follows a structured eight-phase protocol that ensures thorough and safe processing.

• Phase 1 – History: Your therapist gathers background and identifies target memories
• Phase 2 – Preparation: You learn coping techniques and understand what to expect
• Phase 3 – Assessment: The target memory is identified along with associated beliefs and emotions
• Phases 4–7 – Processing: Bilateral stimulation is used while you focus on the memory, new positive beliefs are installed, body sensations are addressed, and the session closes safely
• Phase 8 – Re-evaluation: Progress is assessed at the start of the next session

What EMDR Can Treat

While EMDR was originally developed for PTSD, research now supports its use for a wide range of conditions. These include anxiety disorders, panic attacks, complex PTSD, childhood trauma, grief and loss, phobias, chronic pain, depression related to traumatic experiences, and performance anxiety. Many patients who haven’t responded to traditional talk therapy find EMDR transformative because it works on a different level—directly targeting how memories are stored and processed.

What to Expect in a Session

A typical EMDR session lasts 60–90 minutes. During the processing phases, you’ll follow your therapist’s fingers or a light bar with your eyes while holding the target memory in mind. You may experience waves of emotion, physical sensations, or spontaneous insights. Between sets of eye movements, your therapist checks in and lets the process unfold naturally.

Most people begin to notice shifts in how they experience the traumatic memory within 1–3 sessions. A single traumatic event may be fully resolved in 3–6 sessions, while more complex trauma histories may require longer treatment.

EMDR and Medication: Working Together

EMDR and psychiatric medication can complement each other effectively. Medication can stabilize mood and reduce anxiety enough for a patient to engage productively in EMDR, while EMDR addresses the root causes of symptoms. At Next Step Psychiatry, we coordinate with EMDR therapists to ensure your medication management supports your therapy goals.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 911 or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.