EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a therapeutic approach designed to help client’s process and heal from traumatic experiences and distressing memories. It was developed in the late 1980s and is often used to treat conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). EMDR therapy has been extensively researched and has demonstrated notable effectiveness for treating and resolving all types of trauma.

During an EMDR session, a therapist guides the individual through a series of bilateral eye movements or other forms of rhythmic stimulation (like taps or sounds) while they recall a troubling memory. The idea is that this process helps the brain reprocess the memory, reducing its emotional charge and making it easier to cope with.

The therapy typically involves eight phases, starting with preparing the client and gathering their history, moving through the desensitization and processing of specific memories, and finally integrating the new insights gained during therapy into the person's life. Many people find EMDR to be an effective and relatively quick way to address deep-seated emotional issues.

Our brains have natural ways to recover from traumatic memories and events. This process involves communication between the amygdala (which provides the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). Often, these mechanisms allow us to recover and process traumatic events in a way no longer leaves us anxious, stressful, or reactivated.