Demystifying EMDR: What Is It and How Does It Work?

Some of you may have heard of EMDR and wondered what exactly it is and

how it works. When I was choosing my blog topic, I couldn’t believe that no one at

CCA had written about EMDR yet! I knew I needed to change that and take the

opportunity to explain what EMDR is and the benefits it can offer. This is something I

am incredibly passionate about because I have seen firsthand the positive impact

EMDR can have on clients and most importantly, how it can help people overcome

experiences that have affected them for years and make meaningful, lasting

changes in their lives.

What Exactly Is EMDR & How Can It Help?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It's

basically a lengthy way to describe a specific type of structured psychotherapy.

EMDR was originally developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro back in 1987. In its early

years, it was primarily used to treat trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

(PTSD). Nearly 40 years later, EMDR has become a widely recognized, evidence-

based treatment for PTSD and is now used to address a variety of other mental

health concerns, including anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, grief and loss,

depression, chronic stress, negative self-beliefs, and other distressing life

experiences.

Now, I'm going to avoid giving you the textbook version of how EMDR works

and instead use my own explanation. I think it's important to mention that every

therapist has their own unique way of describing EMDR. While the explanations may

not be exactly the same, they are each therapists creative way of helping clients

understand the process. I believe the more realistic and relatable the explanation,

the more likely it is to connect with clients and help them feel comfortable with what

they're about to experience.

Personally, I like to use what I call the "brain is a file cabinet" explanation. I

start by telling my clients, "I want you to envision your brain as one giant file cabinet.

Got it? Okay, good!" First mission accomplished! Once they have this image in their

mind, I go on to explain that every day, we go through life taking things in. We learn

new information, see things, and have all kinds of experiences. Sometimes we have

good days. Sometimes we have bad days. Sometimes, something distressing or

traumatic happens. 

Then, when we go to bed at night, our brain continues working to process and

organize the information we've taken in throughout the day. Sleep, particularly REM

sleep, plays an important role in memory and emotional processing. I like to explain

this as our brain organizing everything in that giant file cabinet. It files away new

things we need to remember and lets go of things we don't need. Think about it.

Have you ever had a bad day, gone to bed feeling upset, and then woken up the

next morning feeling better or having a clearer idea of how to handle the situation?

Why does that happen? Part of the reason is that sleep supports our brain's natural

ability to process emotions and memories. I like to think of it as a form of emotional

repair.

What Happens When We Experience Trauma?

Sometimes, trauma is so overwhelming that our brain has difficulty processing

the experience in the same way it processes other memories. Instead of being neatly

organized and filed away, that traumatic memory gets misplaced in our file cabinet.

Maybe it ends up in the wrong folder, gets thrown into a corner, or the pages are

scattered everywhere.

Now imagine that years later, something happens that reminds you of that

experience. It could be a sound, a smell, a location, or something you don't even

consciously recognize. Suddenly, that memory gets activated. Here's where things

get interesting. Instead of simply remembering what happened, you're "feeling it."

Your brain and body may respond with the same fear, anxiety, or physical sensations

you experienced when the trauma originally occurred. Even though the event

happened years ago, your nervous system can react as though it's happening all

over again. This is why someone can logically know they're safe but still experience

overwhelming emotional or physical reactions to reminders of the past.

How Does EMDR Fit Into All of This?

During REM sleep, our eyes naturally move back and forth. EMDR also uses

back-and-forth stimulation, known as bilateral stimulation. Although researchers are

still studying exactly how EMDR works, and it doesn't literally recreate REM sleep,

bilateral stimulation is one component of the treatment process. There are several

ways to accomplish this. You might follow a therapist's fingers, lightbar, or another

object with your eyes, hold pulsers that alternate vibrations between your hands,

listen to alternating sounds through headphones, or use other forms of bilateral

stimulation. 

Here's something I love sharing with my clients. Even Dr. Francine Shapiro,

who developed EMDR, recognized that the name didn't fully capture what the

therapy actually involves. In a 1997 interview, she reportedly explained that eye

movements were only one way to provide bilateral stimulation and suggested that

she would have preferred to call it "Reprocessing Therapy."Think about that! Even

the person who developed EMDR recognized that the name could be misleading.

Despite having "Eye Movement" in its name, EMDR doesn't necessarily require eye

movements. As I mentioned earlier, there are several ways to provide bilateral

stimulation. The important part isn't simply moving your eyes back and forth. It's the

reprocessing of distressing experiences that takes place during treatment.

Now, let's go back to our file cabinet. Remember those traumatic memories

that were thrown into a corner, placed in the wrong folder, or left with pages

scattered everywhere? EMDR helps the brain reprocess those experiences so they

can become better organized and integrated with other memories. We're not erasing

the memory or pretending the experience never happened. The goal is to help your

brain recognize that the experience is in the past, rather than continuing to respond

as though it's happening in the present. In other words, you can remember what

happened without having to relive all the emotions and physical reactions that came

with it. That's one of the things I love most about EMDR. It works with the brain and

body's natural ability to process experiences and heal, helping people move forward

without remaining overwhelmed by what happened to them.

EMDR Is Weird

I always tell my clients, "This is going to be weird, but weird can be good!" I

remember thinking EMDR was weird when I first learned it, too. I was used to doing

traditional "talk therapy", just like many of my clients are used to receiving it. When

someone comes in expecting to sit on a couch and talk through their problems,

EMDR can feel a little strange or even scary at first. Sometimes, doing something

different is exactly what we need to make meaningful changes.

This is also where trust and rapport become incredibly important. I've always

believed that when clients genuinely trust their therapist, they're much more willing to

step outside their comfort zone and try something different. I often joke that if my

clients trust me enough, I can get them to try just about anything! Of course, that

trust is something we build together and clients should always feel comfortable

asking questions, expressing concerns, and moving at their own pace. EMDR may

be different from what they're used to, but having that trusting relationship can make

all the difference.

What Actually Happens During an EMDR Session?

First, it's important to understand that EMDR isn't just about moving your eyes

back and forth. It's a structured treatment process that includes getting to know your

history, identifying what you want to work on, and making sure you're prepared

before beginning memory processing. When you're ready, your therapist will guide

you through focusing on different aspects of a distressing memory while using

bilateral stimulation. Throughout the process, you'll notice what comes up, whether

that's thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, or other memories, while your

therapist helps guide you through the experience. Here's something many people

are surprised to learn: You don't have to repeatedly talk about every detail of what

happened. Unlike what many people expect from traditional talk therapy, EMDR

doesn't require you to spend the entire session describing or analyzing your

experiences.

One of the things I find most fascinating about EMDR is how quickly some

people can experience meaningful changes. I've worked with clients who carried

distressing memories for years and experienced significant relief after just three

sessions of processing that particular memory. Think about that. Something that has

affected someone for years can sometimes become substantially less distressing in

a relatively short period of time! Of course, everyone's experience is different. Some

people experience improvement relatively quickly, while others need more time

depending on their history, symptoms, and individual needs. EMDR isn't necessarily

the right approach for everyone, but it can be incredibly effective for many people.

At the end of the day, healing isn't about erasing the past. It's about learning

how to move forward without those experiences continuing to hold us back. It takes

courage to open the drawers of our file cabinet, sort through what's inside, and finally

put things where they belong. Our past experiences may shape who we are, but they

don't have to determine our future. Yes, the EMDR process might feel a little weird at

first, but sometimes weird and different are exactly what we need!

By. Sheena Kirkendoll

      LCSW, CRAADC, LSCSW, LCAC, SAP, SEP