News
Jan 28, 2026
EMDR Therapy: A Brief Guide to What It Is and How It Helps
Many people come into therapy feeling frustrated that certain memories, reactions, or emotional patterns still have a strong hold on them, even though life has moved forward. You might logically know something is “over,” yet your body, emotions, or reactions don’t seem to agree. If this sounds familiar, EMDR therapy may be a gentle and effective approach to help you heal.
This guide provides a clear overview of what EMDR is, how it developed, how it works, and why it is an effective treatment for trauma, anxiety, and emotional distress.
A Simple History: How EMDR Was Discovered
EMDR wasn’t born out of theory—it started with simple observation. In the late 1980s, psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro noticed during a walk that when her eyes moved back and forth, the emotional intensity of a distressing thought noticeably decreased. She became curious and began studying this effect with others. Over years of research and refinement, EMDR developed into a structured, evidence-based form of trauma therapy now used worldwide. Today, EMDR is one of the most researched treatments for trauma, PTSD, and anxiety and is recommended by organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization.
The AIP Model: The Core Idea Behind EMDR
The Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model suggests that the brain naturally knows how to heal, organize experiences, and store memories in a way that helps us move forward. But when an experience is overwhelming or emotionally painful, the brain can’t fully process it, leaving the memory “stuck” with the original emotions, sensations, and beliefs attached.
This is why someone might be able to logically tell themselves, “I know I’m safe now,” “I’m not to blame,” or “I’m good enough,” yet still feel—deep in their gut—that none of those statements are true. Many people can explain their irrational core belief logically, and even argue against it, but the emotional and physical charge remains. EMDR helps bridge that gap by allowing the brain and body to process the memory at a deeper level, making the shift not just intellectual but felt. People often say the new belief finally “clicks” in their body, not just their mind.
What EMDR Therapy Actually Is
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a structured therapy approach that helps people process distressing memories and emotional patterns using bilateral stimulation—usually gentle eye movements, tapping, or sounds that alternate from left to right. Instead of retelling or analyzing every detail of the past, EMDR allows the mind and body to work together to release what has been stuck and create healthier, more grounded emotional responses. Many clients describe EMDR as helping their minds finish a job that was left incomplete.
What an EMDR Session Feels Like
Most sessions begin with grounding and preparation. Before any reprocessing happens, you learn calming strategies and ways to stay centered so the experience feels safe and manageable. You and your therapist then identify the memory, belief, or emotional pattern that feels stuck. When you briefly bring this experience to mind, the therapist adds bilateral stimulation—often through back-and-forth eye movements—which helps the brain begin to reprocess the memory.
As the memory shifts, people often notice emotional intensity decreasing, insights emerging, or the event beginning to feel more distant and less charged. Once the distress settles, the therapist helps reinforce a healthier, more empowering belief so that the experience ends not with pain, but with strength and clarity. The entire process is collaborative, paced appropriately, and centered around your comfort.
What EMDR Therapy Can Help With
EMDR is widely known for helping people heal from trauma and PTSD, but it also supports concerns such as anxiety, panic, chronic stress, grief, relationship wounds, negative self-beliefs, and emotional patterns that feel hard to break. Many people seek EMDR not because of one major traumatic event, but because they want relief from childhood emotional wounds, work stress, relationship triggers, or internal beliefs that haven’t shifted despite years of logic and insight.
Why Many People Find EMDR So Transformative
Clients often appreciate that EMDR doesn’t require them to relive painful experiences in detail and that the healing feels natural and less forced. Many people have spent years telling themselves they should feel differently or that their fears “don’t make sense,” yet their body still reacts as if the past is happening now. EMDR helps create alignment between what someone knows logically and what they feel emotionally, often allowing the new belief to take root in a grounded, embodied way. People frequently describe EMDR as gentle, efficient, and unexpectedly relieving.
Is EMDR a Good Fit for You?
EMDR may be helpful if you feel stuck in certain emotional patterns, if memories still feel close to the surface, or if your reactions feel bigger than the moment. It can also be a good fit if you know something is over but still feel it in your body, or if traditional talk therapy has helped you understand the issue but hasn’t fully resolved it. A trained EMDR therapist can help you determine whether this approach aligns with your needs and goals.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to keep carrying the emotional weight of past experiences. EMDR therapy offers a path toward clarity, relief, and healing by helping the brain fully process what it didn’t have the capacity to handle at the time. Whether you're looking for trauma therapy, anxiety treatment, or a deeper sense of emotional freedom, EMDR may be a meaningful next step in your healing journey.
If you’re curious about EMDR or want to explore whether it’s right for you, I’m here to help. Reaching out is often the first step toward feeling lighter, calmer, and more grounded.
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https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/max-sturm-howell-mi/1150307