If you’ve ever heard someone say, “EMDR changed my life,” and thought… What even is that? - you’re not alone.

As a therapist trained in EMDR (which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), I get that question all the time. The name alone sounds clinical and kind of mysterious, and the idea of moving your eyes to process trauma might make you raise an eyebrow. That’s okay. I felt the same way when I first heard about it too.

But here’s the thing: EMDR isn’t magic, but it is powerful. It’s a different way of helping people heal, especially when talk therapy isn’t quite getting to the root of things. It allows our brain to and body to reconnect in a safe, guided, and research-based journey, with healing past traumas as the goal.

Let me explain what it is in simple terms—and more importantly, why it helps people feel better.

So.. What is EMDR?

EMDR is a therapy that helps people heal from painful or traumatic experiences. It was originally developed to treat PTSD, but it’s now used for a lot more: anxiety, panic attacks, low self-esteem, childhood wounds, and even everyday stress that’s just “stuck” in the body.

During an EMDR session, we help your brain process memories that didn’t get properly sorted at the time they happened. These are usually experiences that felt overwhelming or scary—times when your system went into fight/flight/freeze mode and never fully came back down.

The unique part of EMDR is something called bilateral stimulation—this can be moving your eyes side to side, tapping your hands, or listening to tones in each ear. It sounds a little weird, but it helps both sides of the brain communicate, kind of like hitting “refresh” on how a memory is stored.

You don’t have to talk in detail about the memory if you don’t want to. Your brain knows what to do—you just follow where it leads, and I guide you through it.

Why EMDR Can Be So Incredibly Helpful

Let’s be honest: sometimes talking about what happened—over and over—just doesn’t help. You know the event is in the past, but your body still reacts like it’s happening right now. Or you’ve tried to convince yourself you’re okay, but deep down, that belief that “I’m not safe,” or “I’m not good enough,” still lives inside you. This “living inside you” can look like tightness in your chest, shoulders, hips, or belly. It can look like exhaustion, stomach aches, nausea, and migraines.

That’s where EMDR comes in.

1. It helps you finally feel unstuck.

So many people come into EMDR saying, “I know this logically, but I don’t feel it.” Maybe you've told yourself for years that it wasn’t your fault… but a part of you still carries guilt or shame. EMDR helps close the gap between what you know and what you feel. After processing, people often say, “It’s weird—I just feel lighter. Like it’s finally not running the show.”

2. You don’t have to explain everything.

For people who hate talking about painful memories—or struggle to put things into words—EMDR is a breath of fresh air. You can heal without retelling every detail. You get to follow your inner experience instead of performing your pain for someone else.

3. It works with the body, not just the brain.

Trauma isn’t just a mental replay—it’s stored in the body. Tight chest. Racing heart. Avoidance. EMDR helps your whole system feel like the danger has passed, not just your mind. It’s common for clients to say they feel calmer, grounded, even physically more relaxed after a session.

4. It changes the story you tell yourself.

Many of us carry beliefs we picked up during painful moments:
“I’m a burden.”
“I’m not lovable.”
“I’m weak.”
EMDR doesn’t just help you remember what happened differently—it helps you see yourself differently. The memory is still there, but it doesn’t define you anymore.

5. It’s focused and intentional.

Instead of rehashing the same topics week after week, EMDR is more structured. We choose a specific memory or belief that’s still impacting your life and work through it with care and support. The goal is to feel real movement and change—not just talk in circles.

How Is It Different From Regular Talk Therapy?

Talk therapy is incredibly helpful for many people. It can be a space for insight, connection, and problem-solving. But sometimes, insight isn’t enough to shift those deep-down feelings. You can understand why something affected you and still feel like it has power over you.

EMDR is more experiential. Instead of analyzing the past, we gently guide your brain to finish processing what got stuck there. There’s less talking, more noticing—like tuning into your inner world without judgment and letting your brain do what it was built to do: heal.

We also pay close attention to your body and emotions throughout. It’s a whole-person approach.

What Does an EMDR Session Feel Like?

Every session looks a little different, but here’s the general vibe:

We start by talking through what you want to work on and making sure you feel safe and grounded. We’ll identify a memory or belief that feels charged, like “I’m not good enough” or “I’m not in control.” Then, we use bilateral stimulation while you focus on that target.

You don’t need to talk unless you want to. I’ll check in as we go, help you stay connected, and support you through anything that comes up. At the end of the session, we do grounding together to make sure you leave feeling settled.

People often describe the experience as surprising. Sometimes emotional, sometimes calm, sometimes unexpected—but usually with a sense of movement. That stuck feeling starts to loosen. New thoughts or insights bubble up. And slowly, your system starts to realize: it’s safe now.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve tried talking and journaling and coping skills and still feel like something’s stuck… EMDR might be worth exploring.

It doesn’t erase the past, but it helps the pain lose its grip. It helps you see yourself differently—stronger, wiser, more whole. It helps your nervous system breathe again.

As a therapist, I’ve had the privilege of watching people release long-held pain and step into a deeper sense of self. EMDR isn’t the only way to heal, but for many, it’s the key that finally opens the door.

And if you're curious? Reach out. I’d be happy to tell you more about how it might help you.

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