EMDR Part 1: What It Is & Why It Works
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy was first developed in the late 1980s by Dr. Francine Shapiro—accidentally. While walking in a park, she noticed that her distress over a troubling thought was decreasing as her eyes moved back and forth, scanning the landscape. Curious, she conducted studies to see if this effect worked for others, and it did. From that simple observation, EMDR was born.
Over the past 30 years, extensive research has proven EMDR’s effectiveness across different populations. While it is widely known as an evidence-based treatment for trauma, particularly for veterans and survivors of sexual violence or abuse, EMDR is also highly effective for:
• PTSD symptoms
• Addiction recovery
• Eating disorders
• Depression and anxiety
• OCD and phobias
• Attachment wounds and dysfunctional relationships
How Does EMDR Work?
EMDR is based on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, which suggests that maladaptively stored memories contribute to disruptive thoughts and behaviors in the present. These memories remain “stuck” because they are disconnected from adaptive memory networks.
By reprocessing these memories, EMDR allows them to integrate with adaptive information. This helps clients react to present situations without past experiences overwhelming or hijacking their responses. Throughout the EMDR process, clients often explore past-present connections—a key element of the AIP model—to map how past experiences are influencing current challenges and identify what they want to change in the future.
The Role of Bilateral Stimulation
EMDR utilizes bilateral stimulation—movements or sounds that alternate across the body’s midline. Common examples include:
• Eye movements (left to right)
• Alternating taps on the arms or legs
• Sounds alternating between the right and left ears
• Handheld buzzers vibrating in each hand
Bilateral stimulation activates the same part of the brain engaged during REM sleep, which helps move memories from the limbic (emotional) brain to the cortical (logical) brain. This also taxes your working memory, creating dual awareness—a state where you are aware of both past experiences and the present moment. This dual awareness is critical, as EMDR focuses on connecting past experiences to current issues, reprocessing them, and creating positive changes in the present.
How EMDR Changes Thoughts and Behaviors
A key mechanism of EMDR is separating maladaptive associations between past memories and current dysfunction before creating new, adaptive associations.
For example:
A person who learned as a child, “I’m not good enough,” because their father hit them for making mistakes, may now struggle with perfectionism at work or insecurity in relationships. EMDR helps them hold the memory of their father’s actions while noticing their present emotions and physical sensations. Using bilateral stimulation, they shift their perspective from “I’m not good enough” to “I am good enough.”
As this process generalizes to other memories, the client might notice more self-compassion and confidence, leading to improved work performance and greater openness in relationships.
Learn More About EMDR
Now that you understand why EMDR works, the next blog post will explore what an EMDR session actually looks like—it’s a much different experience than traditional talk therapy.
For additional information about EMDR and its effectiveness, visit the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA).