What Is EMDR Therapy? How It Works and Who It Helps
- Jason Chang, CCC
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they stop feeling as vivid, overwhelming, or present-tense — often in fewer sessions than traditional talk therapy.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
Developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987, EMDR is recognized by the World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association as a frontline treatment for trauma and PTSD. Unlike therapies that rely mainly on talking through a memory, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements, taps, or tones — while you briefly focus on a distressing memory, helping the brain file that memory away as something that happened in the past rather than something still happening now.
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR follows an eight-phase protocol:
History-taking — understanding your background and treatment goals
Preparation — learning grounding and stabilization skills before touching difficult material
Assessment — identifying the target memory, image, and beliefs attached to it
Desensitization — reprocessing the memory using bilateral stimulation
Installation — strengthening a more accurate, positive belief in its place
Body scan — checking for any remaining physical tension tied to the memory
Closure — returning to a calm, grounded state at the end of each session
Reevaluation — reviewing progress at the start of the next session
Sessions are paced to your window of tolerance — a skilled EMDR therapist won't move to phase four until you have enough stability to process difficult material safely.
Why Does EMDR Work? The Theory Behind It
EMDR is built on the idea that the brain has a natural information-processing system that can get "stuck" when a memory is too overwhelming to fully process at the time it happened. Bilateral stimulation appears to activate a similar processing state to what happens naturally during REM sleep, helping the brain finish processing the memory and file it away as something that happened in the past.
Researchers are still refining the exact mechanism, but leading theories point to how bilateral stimulation affects working memory and the brain's ability to access and update stored emotional information. What's consistently observed, regardless of the exact mechanism, is that the memory typically becomes less vivid and less distressing after successful reprocessing, while the factual details remain intact.
What Does EMDR Help With?
EMDR was originally developed for single-incident trauma (accidents, assaults, disasters) and remains highly effective there, often producing meaningful relief in as few as 3–12 sessions. It's also used, with appropriate adaptation, for:
Complex trauma and childhood abuse
Anxiety and panic
Depression linked to painful past experiences
Dissociation and dissociative symptoms
Borderline Personality Disorder, particularly the trauma and attachment wounds underneath it
Is EMDR Safe for Complex Trauma and Dissociation?
Yes — when it's adapted appropriately. For complex PTSD, dissociative symptoms, or BPD, EMDR typically needs to be paced more slowly, with more time spent on stabilization first. Used without this adaptation, EMDR can occasionally feel destabilizing for someone with significant dissociation; used skillfully, it's one of the most effective tools available for these presentations. This is why therapist training and experience with complex cases matters as much as the modality itself.
Is EMDR Right for Everyone?
Not automatically — EMDR works best when you have enough internal stability to safely process difficult material, which is part of why the preparation phase exists before any memory work begins.
EMDR may need to be delayed, adapted, or combined with other approaches first for people who are currently in crisis, experiencing significant dissociation, or who haven't yet built basic coping and grounding skills. This isn't a reason to avoid EMDR altogether — it's why an experienced EMDR therapist assesses readiness carefully and paces treatment accordingly, rather than moving straight into reprocessing for every client.
EMDR vs. Other Trauma Therapies
EMDR is sometimes compared to Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), a phase-oriented, parts-based approach. The two aren't competitors — many clients benefit from TIST's stabilization work first, with EMDR introduced later for targeted memory processing once enough internal stability has been built.
What Does an EMDR Session Feel Like?
Most people describe EMDR as less exhausting than expected — you're not required to describe the memory in detail out loud, which can make it feel more contained than traditional talk therapy. Some sessions bring up strong emotion; others feel calm and almost uneventful. Both are normal parts of the process.
How Clarity Counselling Uses EMDR
Jason is an EMDR-trained clinician who integrates EMDR with TIST, Internal Family Systems, and somatic approaches — pacing trauma processing to what's actually safe and stabilizing for each client, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all protocol. Clarity Counselling is a fully virtual practice, and all EMDR sessions are conducted online for clients throughout Western Canada.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many EMDR sessions will I need? It depends on the complexity of what you're processing. Single-incident trauma may resolve in a handful of sessions; complex or childhood trauma usually takes longer, with more time spent on preparation first.
Does EMDR involve hypnosis? No. You remain fully awake and aware throughout an EMDR session — it's a structured therapy, not hypnosis.
Is EMDR only for PTSD? No. While it's best known for PTSD, EMDR is also used for anxiety, depression, dissociation, and the trauma underlying conditions like BPD.
Will I have to describe my trauma in detail? Not in the way you might expect. You'll identify the memory and its associated beliefs and sensations, but you don't need to narrate the full story out loud for EMDR to work.
Is EMDR covered by insurance in Canada? Many extended health plans that cover registered/certified counselling also cover EMDR sessions with a qualified therapist — check your specific plan for details.
Can EMDR be done virtually? Yes. EMDR is highly effective delivered online, and Clarity Counselling offers EMDR therapy entirely virtually to clients across Western Canada.
Curious whether EMDR is right for you? Book a free 15-minute consultation with Clarity Counselling.
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