What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. Ongoing research supports positive clinical outcomes showing EMDR therapy as a helpful treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences (Maxfield, 2019). EMDR therapy has even been superior to Prozac in trauma treatment (Van der Kolk et al., 2007). Shapiro and Forrest (2016) share that more than 7 million people have been treated successfully by 110,000 therapists in 130 countries since 2016.
(This information was pulled directly from the EMDRIA website)
Our Success at Lions Heart
We have used EMDR with over 100 patients in the last few years. Most patients have had signifcant reduction in PTSD reactions to triggering events. In addition, clients distress tolerance and ability to process upsetting events has improved. If you are holding onto old wounds this is an excellent tool to reduce your emotional reactivity and heal yourself.
The best part is the work all happens in the office. Your only homework outside of sessions is take good and gentle care of yourself. We often suggest clients bring a playlist of gentle supporting and upbeat music to listen to after their session.
Our Process
Clients with intense reactions should plan on two visits per week during the first phase of EMDR treatment.
EMDR is considered a second phase of treatment at Lions Heart. First we want to develop client’s ability to self-regulate upsetting emotions and provide an inner nurturing response to themselves. We also want to ensure clients are in a safe environment conducive to healing.
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Who is a good Candidate
Clients who have had upsetting events that cause ongoing stress and challenges
Clients who are hyper vigilant and lose their shit when triggered.
Clients who are motivated to go thru the pain and challenge of processing upsetting events to improve the quality of their mental states and life.
Clients that can visualize and experience past events while in the office. There are some clients who struggle with this and our experience is they do not benefit from EMDR.
Clients who do not significantly dissociate during EMDR. While dissociation is a common response to stress, people with significant history of trauma may need more work to integrate prior to digging into this work. And some clients may not be able to handle this treatment method.
Clients with seizure disorders are not recommended to do this treatment.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the most well-known “Trauma-Specific Services.” While traditional talk therapy focuses on the narrative (talking through what happened), EMDR focuses on the memoryand how it’s stored in the brain and body.
How It Works: The “Unstuck” Theory
When a person experiences trauma, the brain’s natural ability to process information can get overwhelmed. The memory essentially becomes “stuck” in its raw, emotional form.
In an EMDR session, the therapist uses Bilateral Stimulation (BLS)—usually side-to-side eye movements, hand-tapping, or auditory tones—while the client briefly focuses on the traumatic memory. This is thought to mimic the brain’s processing during REM sleep, helping “digest” the memory so it moves from a painful, living experience to a neutral, historical one.
The 8 Phases of EMDR
EMDR is highly structured to ensure the client remains safe and grounded throughout the process.
| Phase | Name | What Happens |
| 1 | History-Taking | Identifying the specific “target” memories to work on. |
| 2 | Preparation | Crucial for safety. You learn coping skills (like “The Safe Place” exercise) to handle distress. |
| 3 | Assessment | Identifying the image, the negative belief (e.g., “I am powerless”), and the desired positive belief. |
| 4 | Desensitization | Using eye movements while focusing on the trauma until it no longer feels distressing. |
| 5 | Installation | Strengthening the positive belief (e.g., “I am strong now”) using more eye movements. |
| 6 | Body Scan | Checking for any remaining physical tension or “knots” in the body. |
| 7 | Closure | Ensuring the client feels stable and calm before leaving the session. |
| 8 | Reevaluation | Checking in at the next session to see if the progress has “stuck.” |
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Why EMDR is “Trauma-Informed”
EMDR is a favorite in the trauma-informed world because it prioritizes the client’s autonomy:
- No detailed talking required: Unlike some therapies, you don’t have to describe the trauma in graphic detail. You only need to “hold it in mind.”
- Stop at any time: The client is in total control of the pace.
- Focus on stabilization: A huge portion of EMDR (Phase 2) is dedicated purely to making sure the client has the tools to stay safe before any trauma is touched.
- Empowerment: The goal is to shift from a “victim” mindset (the negative belief) to a “survivor” mindset (the positive belief).
Comparison: EMDR vs. Traditional Talk Therapy
- Talk Therapy: Can take years; relies on verbalizing thoughts; focuses on the “why.”
- EMDR: Often produces results in fewer sessions; relies on the brain’s natural processing; focuses on the “sensation” and “storage.”