Understanding EMDR Therapy: Healing Through the Brain’s Natural Process

Introduction

If you’ve ever felt stuck in old patterns, memories, or emotions that just won’t seem to loosen their grip, you’re not alone. Many people find that even after time has passed, certain experiences continue to affect how they feel, think, and respond. EMDR therapy offers a way to help the brain do what it was built to do — heal.

This approach isn’t about talking endlessly about the past. Instead, it’s about helping your brain process and release what’s been holding you back, so you can move forward feeling calmer, clearer, and more like yourself.

The Discovery of EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) was developed by Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., who first noticed its effects quite by accident. While walking in a park one day, she realized that her own distressing thoughts and emotions began to ease as her eyes moved back and forth naturally.

Curious, she began experimenting and found that others experienced similar relief when eye movements were paired with gently focusing on a difficult memory or thought. From this discovery, Dr. Shapiro developed a structured process she called Eye Movement Desensitization in 1987.

Since then, EMDR has been extensively researched and validated — with 36 randomized studies confirming its effectiveness for trauma treatment. It’s now recognized by major organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychiatric Association (APA), and both the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense as a recommended treatment for PTSD.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR is a structured therapy that helps people process and heal from difficult or traumatic experiences. During a session, you’ll briefly focus on a specific memory while engaging in gentle bilateral stimulation — often through guided eye movements. This process helps the brain reprocess the memory so it no longer feels as raw, intense, or overwhelming.

The memory remains, but its emotional charge softens, allowing space for calm and perspective.

Decades of research show that EMDR is an effective treatment for trauma and PTSD, and it has also been shown to help with anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences (Maxfield, 2019). In fact, studies have even found EMDR to be more effective than Prozac for trauma treatment (Van der Kolk et al., 2007).

Today, EMDR therapists in more than 130 countries use this approach to help millions of people heal and reclaim a sense of peace and balance (Shapiro & Forrest, 2016).

What Makes EMDR Different

One of the things people appreciate most about EMDR is that it doesn’t require talking in detail about the painful event or completing homework between sessions. Instead of focusing on changing your thoughts or emotions, EMDR helps your brain do what it naturally knows how to do — heal.

By working with the brain’s natural processes, EMDR helps resolve unprocessed or “stuck” memories that may be causing ongoing distress. For many people, this approach brings meaningful relief more quickly than traditional talk therapy, often in fewer sessions.

How EMDR Works in the Brain

Our brains are built to heal from painful experiences. This natural healing process involves communication between several key areas:

• The amygdala, which activates the alarm system when we sense danger.
  
  
• The hippocampus, which helps us learn and form memories about safety and threat.
  
  
• The prefrontal cortex, which allows us to think clearly and manage our emotions.
  
  

Most of the time, the brain processes and integrates experiences naturally. But sometimes — especially after trauma or intense stress — that process gets interrupted. When this happens, the brain may stay “stuck” in survival mode.

You might notice this as fight, flight, or freeze responses that resurface long after the event has passed. The emotions, sensations, or images from that moment can feel as if they’re happening all over again.

EMDR helps the brain reprocess these experiences so they can finally move into long-term memory, where they belong. You still remember what happened, but it no longer feels as though it’s happening now.

The Science Behind EMDR: The AIP Model

At the heart of EMDR therapy is the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model — a way of understanding how the brain stores and links memories. This model helps explain why we experience certain symptoms, how healing happens, and what lasting change can look like.

According to the AIP model, every experience we have — both positive and painful — shapes how we see ourselves and the world. The past is present. Our earlier experiences become like the “glasses” we wear, influencing how we think, feel, and relate to others.

When a distressing memory doesn’t fully process, it can get “stuck,” linking to other painful experiences and continuing to affect us in the present. EMDR helps the brain get unstuck, allowing those old emotions, thoughts, and body sensations to finally move through and settle.

Many of the reasons people come to therapy — anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, and more — often trace back to unresolved or painful experiences. EMDR supports the brain’s natural ability to heal, helping you find relief, resilience, and a renewed sense of calm in the here and now.

Closing Reflection

EMDR therapy isn’t about erasing the past — it’s about helping your brain and body understand that the past is over. Through this process, you can remember what happened without reliving it, and begin to move forward with greater clarity, peace, and self-compassion.

If you’re curious about EMDR or wondering whether it might be right for you, I’d be honored to help you explore it. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to walk that path alone.