What Is EMDR, and How Does It Help With Trauma?

EMDR is one of the most-researched therapies for trauma — and one of the most misunderstood. Here’s what it actually is, and why so many people find relief with it.

How EMDR works

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) uses brief sets of guided bilateral stimulation — often side-to-side eye movements — while you briefly bring up a distressing memory. Over time, the memory loses its emotional charge, so it feels like the past instead of the present.

You don’t have to relive everything

A big reason people find EMDR tolerable is that it doesn’t require detailed retelling of what happened. Your therapist keeps the work at a pace that feels safe.

What EMDR can help with

Several of our clinicians are EMDR-trained.

• Trauma and PTSD
• Childhood trauma and abuse
• Anxiety, panic, and phobias
• Grief and painful memories