Let’s Talk About EMDR—What It Is & How It Works

If you’ve ever felt like certain things from your past still have a grip on you, messing with how you feel, react, or even just exist day-to-day, you’re not alone. Trauma—whether big, small, or somewhere in between—doesn’t just disappear. It sticks around in ways we don’t always understand, shaping how we see ourselves and the world.

That’s where EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) comes in. It’s a type of therapy that helps your brain process those stuck memories so they don’t weigh you down anymore. And no, you don’t have to talk everything to death—this is about actually rewiring how your brain holds onto the hard stuff.

So, What Actually Happens in EMDR?

Think of your brain like a messy filing cabinet. When something overwhelming happens, instead of filing it away properly, your brain just shoves it somewhere random—where it sits, unprocessed, waiting to pop up at inconvenient times (hello, random anxiety).

EMDR helps reprocess those memories so your brain can finally put them in the right place—meaning they stop taking over your thoughts, reactions, and emotions. We do this using bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds), which gets both sides of your brain working together to move that memory from “actively messing with me” to “just something that happened”.

What Can EMDR Help With?

Most people think of EMDR as something for PTSD (which, yes, it helps with), but it’s also amazing for:

✔️ Anxiety & panic attacks

✔️ Trauma (both the big stuff and the everyday stuff that lingers)

✔️ Low self-esteem & negative self-talk

✔️ Phobias & fears

✔️ Relationship struggles & attachment wounds

✔️ Feeling stuck in patterns that don’t serve you

What an EMDR Session Feels Like

1. First, we prep. You’re not just thrown into processing heavy stuff right away. We work on coping tools (like a calm place visualization or a container for tough thoughts) so that when we do start processing, you feel grounded and in control.

2. We figure out what’s holding you back. We pinpoint the memories, beliefs, or feelings that keep replaying in the background. Maybe it’s a core belief like “I’m not good enough,” and we trace it back—where did that belief even come from?

3. Reprocessing begins. Using bilateral stimulation, we guide your brain through the memory so it can start filing it away properly. You’re not reliving it—you’re shifting how your brain stores it.

4. We check in and close out. EMDR isn’t about opening emotional wounds and leaving you hanging. Each session ends with grounding techniques to make sure you’re feeling steady before you leave.

Does EMDR Actually Work?

Short answer: Yes.

Longer answer: Yes, but it’s not a magic wand. It’s science-backed, incredibly effective, and often works faster than traditional talk therapy because it gets to the root of things instead of just talking around them.

Is EMDR Right for You?

If you feel stuck, if your past is still showing up in ways you don’t want it to, or if you just want to process things in a way that actually moves you forward, EMDR might be worth exploring. And if you’re unsure? Let’s talk. Therapy is about finding what works for you—no pressure, no judgment, just figuring out what helps.