What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy developed to help the brain reprocess memories and nervous-system responses that haven’t fully processed. It was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and is now widely recognized as an effective treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress, endorsed by organizations including the World Health Organization. Unlike many talk therapies, EMDR does not require describing an event in detail; the focus is on how a memory is stored and processed in the brain.
How Does EMDR Work
While briefly recalling a distressing memory, the client follows a back-and-forth stimulation, usually side-to-side eye movements, or sometimes taps or tones. This bilateral stimulation is thought to support the brain’s natural processing of the memory. EMDR is delivered in structured phases:
- history-taking and preparation, including grounding and coping skills
- identifying the specific memories and beliefs to target
- reprocessing those memories using bilateral stimulation
- reinforcing more accurate and adaptive beliefs
A significant part of EMDR happens before any memory is reprocessed. In the preparation phase, the therapist helps the client build internal “resources” for staying grounded, such as a calm or safe place they can bring to mind, breathing and grounding techniques, and ways to set a distressing image aside between sessions. These skills give the client a dependable way to return to a settled state.
This groundwork is what makes the reprocessing possible. Rather than being flooded by a memory, the client learns to stay anchored in the present while holding the memory in mind, close enough to process it without becoming overwhelmed. The therapist paces the work to keep the client within that manageable range, with the resourcing skills always available to return to.
How EMDR Helps
The aim of EMDR is to reduce the intensity of distressing memories, so that recalling them no longer produces the same emotional and physical reaction. As a memory is reprocessed, the related images, sensations, and beliefs (such as “it was my fault”) tend to lose their charge. Research indicates EMDR can be effective for PTSD, sometimes in fewer sessions than other trauma treatments.
Learn more: EMDR International Association
Who Can Benefit from EMDR
EMDR is most established for trauma and PTSD, and is also used for:
- distressing or intrusive memories
- anxiety linked to earlier experiences
- grief and loss
- the lasting effects of abuse
People often consider EMDR when something from the past still feels present: a memory that intrudes without warning, a reaction that seems out of proportion to the moment, or a sense of being on guard that hasn’t eased with time. It is also an option for distress that doesn’t trace back to a single major event, but to many smaller experiences that added up.
EMDR can suit people who feel stuck after talking things through, or who find it hard to put their experience into words at all. It is used with adults and, in adapted forms, with children and teens. A course can be relatively short when the focus is a single memory, or longer when there is more to work through.
Therapy most often includes multiple approaches, shaped around what best fits for you. Your counsellor will work with you to design an approach that meets your needs.
Finding the Right Fit
Research consistently shows that a safe, trusting therapeutic relationship is one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes in counselling. When helping you find a therapist, we consider:
- Your goals, concerns, and preferences
- Your past experiences with counselling (if any)
- Therapist expertise and clinical focus
- Personality, pace, and working style
- Therapeutic orientation and flexibility
Some clients come in knowing they are interested in a particular approach. Others have no idea where to begin—and both are completely valid. You do not need to choose a modality to start counselling. Our role is to help guide the process and support you in finding a therapist who feels like a good fit.
You can also explore therapist profiles on our Meet the Team page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapeutic Approaches
No. Many clients begin therapy without any knowledge of modalities. Your therapist will guide the process and adapt the work to what’s most helpful for you.
No. Therapists at River’s Edge work integratively, drawing from multiple evidence-based approaches as therapy unfolds.
Yes. If you have experience with or interest in a particular modality, we’re happy to take that into account when matching you with a therapist.
That’s very common. Therapy itself is a collaborative process of discovering what supports change for you.
Different approaches can be helpful for different people and concerns. Research shows that the quality of the therapeutic relationship and a flexible, responsive approach are key factors in effective therapy.