Healing The Past: EMDR Therapy
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and it is utilized as a tool in psychotherapy. It was discovered and developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro(Young 2021) and specifically designed to help people heal from the symptoms and emotional distress from severe trauma. For decades, it has been regarded as a highly effective and evidence-based treatment and particularly useful to help treat anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Unlike traditional talk therapy which focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors, EMDR therapy addresses the underlying neurological impact of trauma.
The core theory behind EMDR is that when a traumatic event occurs, it is improperly stored in the brain; it gets “stuck”. Instead of being stored away as a past event like it should be, the memory remains highly charged. The memory retains all of the original intense emotions and physical sensations which explains why a smell or a phrase triggers such extreme reactions; the saying “it felt like yesterday” rings true for memories like this. This being said, how does EMDR work? EMDR is unique in that it utilizes “bilateral stimulation” through auditory, tactile, or visual stimuli perceived in a back-and-forth tempo(Young 2021). This bilateral stimulation overrides the brain’s central workings of only using one hemisphere at a time. While we know how EMDR works, there are no solid findings on why it works although there are theories surrounding the question.(Rousseau 2025) One of the more popular theories is that back-and-forth stimuli mimics the brain’s natural activity during REM sleep, the time during which the brain undergoes processing and consolidation of memories.
It is important to note that as a result of this processing, the memory is not erased but rather transformed. The rhythmic stimulation allows the memory to reprocess itself and strips away the distressing emotions and physical charge associated with the memory. Where a memory once caused visceral fear or intense panic, it now elicits a neutral reaction because the memory is now simply a fact of the past and clients often report feeling a profound shift when recalling the memory. More importantly, through the use of EMDR, individuals are able to shift core self-beliefs; for example, a client may take the phrase “I am not good enough” and shift it into “I am enough.”
Overall, EMDR therapy is highly effective in the reprocessing of severe traumatic memories and is highly regarded in the path towards healing. EMDR is recognized globally as a leading treatment for PTSD and other conditions rooted in adverse life experiences. By activating the brain’s own restorative process, EMDR empowers individuals to integrate their difficult history and fundamentally shift how they see themselves. This turns a painful memory into nothing more than simple knowledge.
Rousseau, D. (2025). Module 4: Pathways to Recovery: Understanding Approaches to Trauma Treatment. Lesson 4.3: Treatment Approaches. EMDR. Boston University, MET CJ 720: Trauma and Crisis Intervention.
Young, K. A. (2021). Trauma and resilience : Your questions answered. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.