What is EMDR? A Transformative Approach to Healing

When we reflect on the way the Lord designed our brains, it becomes clear how beautifully EMDR aligns with our God-given capacity to renew our minds and rewire harmful thought patterns. (PRAISE!)

Whether you’re exploring therapy for yourself or seeking answers for a loved one, this blog series will walk you through what EMDR is, how it works, and why research—and real-life stories—show that it can be truly life-changing.

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1. What is EMDR Therapy?

Developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s, EMDR is a therapy that helps people process and shut down memories that continue to upset them. The memories typically derive from:

• Anxiety, depression, or phobias.
• Grief, loss, or relationship problems.
• Traumatic events, such as violence, accidents, or abuse.

EMDR is unique in that it utilizes bilateral stimulation—most commonly rapid eye movement—to help the brain reprocess distressing or traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity. Now wait a second, I know I am about to lose some of you at eye movement, but don’t fear we have plenty of options for bilateral stimulation in our office that do not involve eye movement! 

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2. How Does EMDR Work?

In essence, EMDR mimics the brain’s natural process of emotional healing, just as it does when it occurs naturally during REM sleep. So what can you expect as you and your clinician are preparing for EMDR?

• Identify the Target:
  • The therapist will help the client identify specific traumatic memories or negative beliefs (“I’m not good enough”). This is typically followed by identifying times the client has felt this negative cognition as well as specific memories that might be associated with this cognition.
• Bilateral Stimulation:
  • The therapist will then guide the client through eye movements or tapping, as the client thinks about negative memory or cognition. Bilateral stimulation engages both brain hemispheres, fostering communication and processing of emotional memories and experiences, potentially reducing emotional over-activation and promoting emotional regulation.
• Desensitization and Reprocessing:
  • Over time, the emotional intensity of the memory fades, and the client makes healthier, more adaptive conclusions about the experience. The client can experience a renewed mindset about a traumatic event, and gain perspective that they might not have otherwise thought about (ANOTHER PRAISE)!

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3. What Does the Research Say About EMDR?

• In his book “The Body Keeps the Score,” Bessel Van Der Kolk discusses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as a therapeutic approach to help alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories, highlighting its effectiveness in treating PTSD symptoms. Check out one of my favorite books here!

• The World Health Organization (WHO) and American Psychological Association (APA) recognize EMDR as a first-line treatment for PTSD.

• EMDR therapy, grounded in extensive research, has emerged as a pivotal tool in psychological treatments of Anxiety, depression, and phobias. My favorite research and scholarly articles can be found here! 

• In addition to its effectiveness in treating trauma, EMDR can also be used to address other common mental health issues among Christians. For example, many Christians struggle with anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. EMDR can be used to help them process the underlying emotional and psychological causes of these issues, leading to improved mental health and a greater sense of peace and well-being. Interested in the balance of faith and EMDR- check out this article and stay tuned in the blog series for upcoming post!