EMDR

We all have a natural ability to process and heal from difficult experiences. When something challenging happens, our minds typically work to make sense of it, often with support from friends, family, or our own inner resources. However, sometimes an experience is too overwhelming, painful, or traumatic for our natural processing system to handle alone. These experiences can become “stuck,” continuing to cause distress long after they’ve occurred.

EMDR therapy helps jumpstart our natural healing process, allowing these overwhelming experiences to be reprocessed until they no longer feel disturbing. EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) therapy follows a structured approach with eight distinct phases that lead to lasting healing.

The Eight Phases of EMDR Therapy

Phase 1: History Taking and Treatment Planning

Our journey begins with getting to know each other and understanding what brings you to therapy. During this phase, we’ll discuss your personal history and develop a treatment plan that feels right for your unique situation. We’ll also assess your internal and external resources, as well as the strengths and support systems you already have in place. This phase helps build a secure therapeutic relationship that will support your healing process.

Phase 2: Preparation

In the preparation phase, I’ll explain how EMDR therapy works, what you can expect, and address any questions or concerns you might have. Together, we’ll develop specific coping techniques to help you manage any emotional disturbance that might arise during treatment. Some people need more time in phases 1 and 2 to feel ready to move forward, and that’s perfectly okay. We’ll move at a pace that feels comfortable for you.

Phase 3: Assessment

Here, we’ll identify the specific memory or event you want to focus on (called the target event). We’ll explore the images, thoughts, feelings, and body sensations connected to this experience. I’ll also introduce two important scales we use to measure progress: the Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD) scale and the Validity of Cognition (VOC) scale. These help us track how disturbing the memory feels and how true positive beliefs about yourself feel.

Phase 4: Desensitization

Using bilateral stimulation —typically side-to-side eye movements, sounds, or gentle taps —we’ll focus on the traumatic event while your brain’s natural processing system does its work. During this phase, new thoughts, images, feelings, or sensations may emerge as your mind works through the material. We’ll continue until the disturbance level reduces significantly or reaches zero.

Phase 5: Installation

Once desensitization is complete, we’ll work on strengthening positive beliefs about yourself in relation to the target event. This phase helps you internalize healthy, adaptive thoughts that feel authentic to your experience.

Phase 6: Body Scan

Your body holds wisdom and often stores trauma in ways that our minds might not immediately recognize. During the body scan, you’ll hold the target memory and positive belief in mind while we check for any remaining physical tension or disturbance from head to toe. If we find any lingering sensations, we’ll reprocess those as well.

Phase 7: Closure

Every reprocessing session ends with closure, regardless of whether we’ve completely finished working on a particular memory. This phase ensures you leave our session feeling calm and grounded in the present moment. We’ll use the coping techniques we developed earlier to help you return to a state of equilibrium.

Phase 8: Reevaluation

Each new session after reprocessing begins with reevaluation. We’ll check in on previously processed memories to ensure they’re still feeling neutral and that positive beliefs remain strong. This phase also helps us plan future directions for treatment and identify any new targets that may have emerged.

The beauty of EMDR therapy lies in its ability to help you access your own natural healing capacity. While the process can sometimes feel intense, many people find significant relief from symptoms of anxiety, trauma, and other emotional difficulties. If you’re struggling with overwhelming experiences or trauma that continues to impact your daily life, EMDR therapy might be a helpful option to explore. Reach out today to learn more.