EMDR Therapy: Healing from Trauma and Getting Past Your Past

Written by Arine Sulukdjian
Registered Associate MFT, Art Therapist ATR-P, Dynamic Psychotherapy Center
September 3, 2025

“Unprocessed memories not only can intensify our sensations and emotional responses,
they can also prevent us from feeling.” — Francine Shapiro, PhD, developer of EMDR


What Is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of psychotherapy developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. While it was first designed to help people heal from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it’s now used to address a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, depression, phobias, grief, and even performance issues.

When something overwhelming happens, the brain sometimes doesn’t get the chance to fully
process it. The memory can get “stuck,” leading to strong emotions, physical reactions, or
negative beliefs that feel tied to the past. That’s why someone might feel like an old event is
happening all over again — even years later.

How EMDR Works

While researchers are still learning exactly how it works, EMDR seems to tap into the brain’s natural healing process in a way that resembles what happens during deep sleep, when rapid eye movements help us process and store memories.

In an EMDR session, your therapist helps you recall distressing memories in a safe and supported way while guiding you through bilateral stimulation (such as following moving fingers with your eyes, listening to alternating tones, or gentle tapping). This back-and-forth movement engages both sides of the brain, allowing it to reprocess the memory in a less distressing, more adaptive way.

Over time, the memory loses its overwhelming intensity. People often notice the emotions and body sensations tied to the memory lessen, and new, healthier beliefs begin to take root. For example, someone may shift from “I’m not safe” to “I am safe now.

EMDR doesn’t require you to go into every detail of your experience. The focus is on helping your brain finish processing what was interrupted, so the past feels like the past — not like it’s still running your present.

The Evidence

EMDR is widely recognized as an effective treatment for trauma. It’s endorsed by organizations
such as:

  • The World Health Organization (WHO)
  • The American Psychological Association (APA)
  • The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Research has shown that EMDR can help reduce symptoms of PTSD more quickly than some other therapies, offering both relief and lasting change.

Who Can Benefit?

EMDR has been helpful for many people, but like any therapy, it isn’t the right fit for everyone. The best way to know if it might be useful for you is to talk it over with a trained therapist who can consider your unique needs and goals.

If you’ve been carrying the weight of past experiences, EMDR may offer a path toward healing and freedom. You don’t have to go through it alone — support is here. If you’d like to explore whether EMDR might be right for you, I would be honored to walk that path with you.


Reflection Questions and Simple Practices You Can Try Now

Take a few moments to check in with yourself:

1. Are there past experiences that still feel “alive” in your body or emotions today?

2. Grounding with the Senses:
Look around and name 5 things you see, 4 things you feel, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you taste. This can help bring you back into the present moment.

3. Gentle Bilateral Tapping:
Cross your arms over your chest and tap your shoulders lightly, alternating left and right. This simple rhythm can be calming and give you a sense of balance.


References

American Psychological Association. (2023). What is EMDR therapy and why is it used to treat PTSD? https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/emdr-therapy-ptsd

Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). The Guilford Press.

Shapiro, F. (2012). Getting past your past: Take control of your life with self-help techniques from EMDR therapy. Rodale.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2014). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for PTSD – PTSD: National Center for PTSD. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/txessentials/emdr_pro.asp

World Health Organization. (2024, May 27). Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/post-traumatic-stress-disorder