What is EMDR therapy and how does it work?
Do you have memories from your past that interfere with your life in the present? When difficult or traumatic experiences happen, our brains and bodies adapt to help us survive. However, as time goes on, those adaptations can cause more harm than good. They become overcorrective, inappropriate for the current context, or simply more rigid than they need to be.
EMDR is a structured form of trauma treatment that specifically targets upsetting memories and the maladaptive response you’re still holding. It’s carefully designed to reprocess the memory without overwhelming your nervous system.
In this post, we will explain what EMDR is, how it works, and what it can help with. We will also talk about EMDR therapy in New York for those who are curious about trying it.
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It was developed in the late 1980s and has become one of the most studied and trusted therapies for helping people heal from trauma. It’s a structured trauma treatment that helps your brain finally finish processing memories that got stuck during the original event (this is called the Adaptive Information Processing or AIP Model).
EMDR is comprised of eight phases and begins with an evaluation, resourcing, and preparation for accessing traumatic memories.
When the client and therapist agree the client’s system is ready, the therapist provides guided bilateral stimulation (back and forth eye movements, tapping, or auditory signals) to allow the client’s brain and body to reprocess the memory in a contained setting. EMDR is structured, time-bound, evidence-based, and often works where years of talk therapy haven't.
EMDR is different from regular talk therapy. Instead of only talking about what happened, your therapist guides you through eye movements or other back-and-forth motions while you think about the memory in small doses. This helps your brain reprocess what happened with more supportive resources and adaptive lessons learned.
How does EMDR therapy work?
EMDR follows eight steps. Your therapist will not rush you. Early steps are about building trust and giving you tools to feel safe first.
● Intake and assessment: Your therapist learns about your life and what you would like help with.
● Resourcing and preparing your nervous system: You learn what to expect and practice ways to calm yourself if needed.
● Memory identification: You and your therapist choose a specific memory to work on, along with the feelings and thoughts connected to it.
● Reprocessing: You follow your therapist's guided eye movements or taps while thinking about the memory, and your therapist checks in on how it feels.
● Constructing a more adaptive belief: You replace an old, unhelpful thought with one that feels positive, workable, and growth-oriented.
● Body scan: You scan your body for lingering tension and process whatever arises.
● Wrapping up: Every session ends calmly, so you leave feeling settled, not shaken up.
● Checking in: Later sessions review your progress and decide what to work on next.
Because of this structure, EMDR can move at whatever speed feels right for you. Some memories only take a few sessions. Others may take more time. Every person and every body is different.
People Also Ask
Is EMDR only for people who have been through something extremely scary?
No. EMDR was first made for people with PTSD, but now it helps with lots of things, like anxiety, grief, creative fears, and stuck thoughts about yourself.
Do I have to describe the whole scary memory out loud?
No. EMDR does not need you to tell the whole story in detail like some other therapies do. A lot of the work happens through small doses of accessing pictures, feelings, and body sensations instead of long explanations, which many people find more tolerable.
What can EMDR help with?
EMDR is well known for helping with big, scary events, but it can help with much more than that. It can be useful for:
● PTSD and specific scary memories
● Long-term or childhood related pain, like feeling unsafe or unloved growing up
● Anxiety, panic, or specific fears
● Grief after losing someone or something important
● Creative blocks, like fear of sharing your art, music, or writing with others
● Thoughts about yourself that feel stuck, even after a lot of thinking and talking about them
Frequently Asked Question
How many sessions does EMDR usually take?
It depends. A single clear memory might only take a few sessions. Bigger or long-term patterns usually take more time, and your therapist can help you understand what to expect.
Does EMDR feel scary or overwhelming?
It can bring up strong feelings, since you are working with hard memories. But the steps are designed to keep things manageable, and every session ends with time to feel calm again.
Can EMDR be combined with other kinds of therapy?
Yes. Many people mix EMDR with other approaches, especially ones that focus on different parts of yourself or how your body holds onto stress.
Finding an EMDR therapist in Brooklyn or across New York
EMDR takes special training, and therapists can differ in how much training they have. If you are looking for an EMDR therapist in Brooklyn, it helps to ask how much EMDR training they have, how they pace sessions, and whether they also pay attention to how your body feels during the process. Feeling safe with your therapist matters just as much as the therapy itself.
If you are thinking about EMDR therapy, it also helps to find someone who understands your whole life story, not just one part of it. Processing a memory works best when your therapist really sees the full picture of who you are.
Contact Us Now!!
If any of this sounds like something you would like to try, we would love to talk with you about it. At New Material, we offer support from a caring EMDR therapy in New York for creative people who are ready to feel less stuck and more like themselves.
