EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy that helps process distressing or traumatic memories by having you recall the event while your therapist guides your eyes side-to-side. This process, also called bilateral stimulation, helps the brain "unstick" the memory, much like REM sleep, so it can be processed in a healthier way. The goal is to reduce the emotional intensity of the memory, allowing you to remember the event without the overwhelming distress it once caused. 

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What happens during a session

• Your therapist will ask you to focus on a specific disturbing memory, including any images, negative thoughts, and physical feelings associated with it.

• While you hold that memory in mind, the therapist will have you track their moving hand with your eyes, use alternating tones, or use gentle hand or foot taps.

• You are encouraged to simply notice whatever comes to mind without trying to control it.

• The therapist will keep you grounded in the present and will use a structured, eight-phase approach.

• The sets of eye movements or other bilateral stimulation are repeated until the memory becomes less disturbing. 

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What to expect

• It is client-led: You are in control of the process, and your therapist will work with you to keep it moving forward.

• It is not a traditional talk therapy: You do not need to go into extensive detail about the memory if you don't want to.

• It helps change your perspective: The goal is for a painful memory to be reprocessed so that you feel empowered, not overwhelmed, by it.

• Progress is measured: Therapists may use scales to monitor your emotional distress (like the SUD scale) and track your progress throughout the process.