EMDR Therapy

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR therapy is a therapeutic approach developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro. It aims to help people heal from the distress caused by disturbing life experiences, often producing results comparable to years of traditional trauma therapy.

In essence, EMDR demonstrates that the mind can recover from psychological trauma much like the body heals from physical injury. Think about it: when you cut your hand, your body naturally works to close the wound, but if a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once that block is removed, healing resumes.

Likewise, your brain processes information with a natural tendency toward mental health. When a disturbing event blocks or throws this system off balance, the emotional wound festers and causes intense suffering. So, by removing these blocks, EMDR helps individuals activate their natural healing processes.

Who EMDR Therapy Can Help

EMDR is a highly effective approach for people coping with trauma and other challenges, including:

• Abuse
• Bullying
• Domestic violence
• Grief and loss
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Attachment or abandonment difficulties
• PTSD
• Chronic medical conditions
• Sports injuries
• First responder experiences

Additionally, it can benefit people of all ages, from young children and teens to adults and older adults.

How EMDR Therapy Works

EMDR therapy combines traditional psychological approaches with the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. In short, this model suggests that trauma blocks the brain’s natural information-processing system.

As a result, events become “locked” in the brain along with the images, sounds, thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations connected to them. Through EMDR therapy, the brain can reprocess these traumatic memories, reducing the emotional and psychological distress they cause.

Generally, EMDR is an eight-phase treatment that helps integrate past events, current triggers, and future templates. During sessions, bilateral stimulation, often guided eye movements, is used while recalling distressing memories. This process activates biological mechanisms similar to REM sleep and supports natural healing by forming new associations.

What Are the Benefits of EMDR Therapy

EMDR therapy is highly effective, with research showing it can reduce PTSD symptoms in 84%–90% of people who have experienced a single trauma. A systematic review showed that EMDR also helps with other conditions, with 58% of the studies analyzed reporting positive outcomes for issues related to anxiety, mood, pain, and stress.

In short, successful EMDR therapy changes the emotional meaning of traumatic events. For example, someone who once felt horror and shame may shift toward a firm and positive belief, such as “I survived it, and I am strong”. Clients often finish EMDR feeling empowered and with a renewed sense of resolution and emotional well-being.

Other benefits of EMDR therapy include:

• Fostering better communication
• Improving relationships and personal boundaries
• Reducing reactive responses to stress
• Improving sleep and promoting positive memories

Skills and Strengths EMDR Supports

As a form of trauma therapy, EMDR not only helps with the traumatic event but also strengthens important personal skills.

Indeed, skills supported through EMDR therapy include:

• Emotional regulation and resilience
• Self-efficacy and a stronger sense of control
• Mindfulness
• Self-awareness
• Cognitive restructuring

By working through EMDR therapy with one of our therapists in New Jersey, these skills will empower you to navigate challenges with greater confidence and emotional balance.