Trauma
Jane Talty • July 15, 2025
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy approach designed to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR focuses on the brain’s natural ability to heal from distressing memories by using bilateral stimulation—most commonly side-to-side eye movements—while the client recalls specific traumatic events. This process helps to reduce the emotional intensity and vividness of the memory, enabling the person to reprocess the event in a way that promotes resolution and decreases psychological distress.
EMDR is particularly effective for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but it has also been shown to benefit people struggling with anxiety, depression, phobias, and complex trauma. By targeting the memory networks in the brain where trauma is “stuck,” EMDR helps clients shift negative beliefs—such as “I am powerless” or “I’m to blame”—into more adaptive, positive beliefs like “I have control now” or “It wasn’t my fault.” This cognitive restructuring happens naturally as emotional distress subsides during processing, making EMDR both a powerful and efficient therapy.
Because EMDR doesn’t require clients to go into detail about their trauma, many find it less re-traumatizing than other approaches. It can foster a sense of safety and empowerment as individuals begin to experience relief from symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance. Over time, EMDR can support not only symptom reduction but also emotional resilience, improved self-worth, and a renewed capacity to engage with life more fully.
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