EMDR Themes and Eating Disorders
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy—better known as EMDR—is widely recognized for its success in treating trauma and PTSD. But its reach extends far beyond that. EMDR is increasingly being used to help individuals with a range of issues, including eating disorders, low self-esteem, anxiety, and more.
What makes EMDR especially powerful is its ability to dig beneath the surface of presenting problems. Rather than focusing solely on behaviors or symptoms, EMDR helps uncover the underlying beliefs that keep us stuck.
Looking Beneath the Surface: The EMDR Framework
When someone enters therapy with a goal like “I want to improve my relationship with food” or “I want to feel more confident,” EMDR views those concerns not as the core issue—but as symptoms of deeper emotional wounds.
EMDR categorizes these core issues into three main belief clusters:
Responsibility / Defectiveness
(“I am unlovable,” “I’m not good enough,” “I am worthless.”)Safety / Vulnerability
(“I am not safe,” “I can’t trust anyone.”)Power / Control
(“I am powerless,” “I can’t handle it,” “I have no control.”)
These belief systems often live just below conscious awareness, yet they shape how we feel, behave, and respond to stress.
The Iceberg Analogy: What’s Underneath the Eating Disorder
Think of eating disorder behaviors as the visible tip of an iceberg. What others see—the restricting, bingeing, purging, or obsessive thoughts—exists above the waterline. But beneath the surface lies the emotional weight that fuels and maintains these behaviors.
The core beliefs identified in EMDR—defectiveness, vulnerability, and lack of control—often form the foundation of the eating disorder. These beliefs may stem from trauma, family dynamics, cultural pressures, or painful life experiences.
For example, helping a client explore the origin of their belief that they’re unlovable allows us to begin rewriting that narrative. Similarly, challenging the belief that control must come from disordered behavior helps clients see recovery as a path to empowerment, not loss.
Practical Ways to Explore the Function of Your Eating Disorder
Even if you aren’t currently doing EMDR, you can begin to explore your eating disorder through this lens. Try reflecting on the following:
What purpose does my eating disorder serve?
What belief does it reinforce or protect me from confronting?
When did this belief first develop?
You can work with your therapist using EMDR, or explore similar questions through:
Attachment work
Narrative therapy
Timeline exercises to map significant life events
Healing Through Self-Understanding
Understanding the function of your eating disorder is often the turning point in recovery. When you recognize that it was never really about food or body image—but about protection, pain, or unmet emotional needs—you can start to rebuild a more compassionate and empowered version of yourself.
Lean into the discomfort. Be curious. Your story is worth exploring—and recovery will help you rewrite it in a way that allows you to feel more grounded, connected, and free.
Support That Gets to the Root
At Empowering You, our clinicians understand that healing requires more than surface-level change. We use trauma-informed approaches—including EMDR—to help clients explore the deeper beliefs that sustain eating disorders and other mental health concerns.
If you’re ready to understand the why behind your symptoms and begin true, lasting healing, contact us today. You don’t have to do it alone—and we’re here to walk with you every step of the way.
