How EMDR Therapy Helps the Brain Heal Trauma

Traumatic experiences affect the brain differently than ordinary memories.

When something overwhelming happens, the brain’s natural processing system can become disrupted. Instead of being stored as a normal memory, the experience can become stuck in the nervous system along with the emotions, body sensations, and beliefs that occurred at the time.

This is why people often say that trauma feels like it is still happening in the present.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR therapy, is designed to help the brain process these experiences so they can finally be stored as past events rather than present threats.

EMDR therapy is based on the understanding that the brain has a natural ability to heal from psychological injuries in the same way the body heals from physical wounds.

When the brain is supported in processing distressing memories, the emotional intensity connected to those experiences can decrease. The memory does not disappear, but it no longer carries the same distress or sense of danger.  

During EMDR therapy, the client focuses briefly on a difficult memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation. This may include eye movements, tapping, or other forms of alternating stimulation that activate both sides of the brain.  Some clients choose to experience this work through EMDR Intensives, which allow the brain to stay engaged in the healing process longer.

This process appears to help the brain connect the memory to more adaptive information. As the brain reprocesses the experience, many clients notice changes such as:

• Reduced emotional intensity connected to the memory
• Greater clarity and perspective
• Decreased anxiety or panic responses
• Healthier beliefs about themselves and the world

For example, a memory that once triggered the belief “I am not safe” may eventually shift to a belief such as “I survived and I am safe now.”

EMDR therapy has been widely researched and is recognized as an effective treatment for trauma and post traumatic stress disorder.

Many people also find EMDR helpful for anxiety, distressing memories, negative self beliefs, and experiences that continue to affect how they see themselves or the world around them.

The goal of EMDR therapy is not to erase the past. Instead, it helps the brain process what happened so the past no longer controls the present.

If you are wondering whether this format may be helpful, you may want to read 5 signs you may benefit from an EMDR Intensive.