Benefits of EMDR Therapy
Efficiency:
EMDR Therapy typically achieves therapeutic results sooner than most traditional talk therapies.
Broad Applicability:
EMDR treats more than just PTSD. It is effective for anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other trauma-related disorders.
Evidenced-Based:
EMDR is one of the most researched therapies, and its efficacy is well-proven. It is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychological Association (APA).
Client Empowerment:
The client plays an active role in the therapeutic process, fostering a sense of empowerment and control.
An Overview of the Eight Stages of EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy is a structured, evidence-based method. It helps people process distressing memories and experiences. These memories often affect their emotional well-being. EMDR is based on the belief that the brain can naturally heal from emotional pain, just as the body recovers from physical injuries. When we don't fully process overwhelming experiences, they can get stuck. This can cause ongoing issues like anxiety, intrusive thoughts, strong emotions, or negative beliefs about ourselves.
EMDR therapy has eight distinct phases. Each phase has a specific purpose. This structure helps make the process safe, effective, and personalized. In each stage, we take our time and go at a pace that works for you. We use each stage to build on the next to support stability, resilience, and long-term healing.
Below is a comprehensive overview of each stage.
1. History Taking and Treatment Planning
The first stage is about understanding your history. It also identifies how EMDR therapy can support your goals.
During this phase, the therapist gathers information about:
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Past experiences that may be contributing to current distress.
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Present triggers, emotional challenges, and symptoms.
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Desired future outcomes, including how you would like to feel or respond differently.
This stage is collaborative and person-centered. Instead of diving into every detail of traumatic events, the therapist helps you find key memories, patterns, or themes that might affect your emotional well-being today.
Key components of this stage include:
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Establishing a clear understanding of your concerns and goals.
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Identifying target memories for future reprocessing.
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Assessing readiness for EMDR therapy.
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Developing a treatment plan tailored to you.
This phase makes sure EMDR therapy is done carefully and safely while taking into consideration your specific needs.
2. Preparation
The preparation stage helps you feel informed, empowered, and ready before you start memory reprocessing.
During this phase, the therapist explains EMDR. The therapist will describe bilateral stimulation (BLS) and what to expect during the process. This important information helps reduce uncertainty and builds trust in the therapeutic relationship.
Preparation may include:
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Learning coping strategies for managing strong emotions.
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Developing relaxation or grounding techniques.
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Identifying internal or external resources that promote safety and well-being.
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Establishing a sense of control and choice throughout therapy.
This stage is crucial. It gives you tools to stay present and calm during the sessions and in between. EMDR therapy emphasizes that you are always in charge of the pace and direction of your healing.
3. Assessment
In the assessment stage, the therapist identifies key parts of the memory or experience to focus on during processing.
Rather than retelling the entire story (you've probably done that enough), this phase focuses on how the brain stores the memory. The therapist works with you to identify:
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A specific image or moment associated with the memory.
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Your negative beliefs about yourself connected to the experience.
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Desired and realistic positive beliefs you would like to hold instead.
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Emotions and physical sensations linked to the memory.
This stage generally includes:
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Rating the level of emotional distress associated with the memory.
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Identifying how true positive beliefs feel in the present moment.
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Noticing how the body responds when recalling the memory.
The assessment phase sets a clear starting point for reprocessing. It also helps track progress over time.
4. Desensitization
Desensitization is often considered the core phase of EMDR therapy, as this is the stage where we will spend most of our time. At this stage, bilateral stimulation helps the brain process the memory.
Bilateral stimulation (BLS) may include:
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Guided eye movements
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Alternating tactile taps
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Alternating auditory tones
During BLS, notice whatever comes up: thoughts, feelings, sensations, or images. Just observe them without judgment or analysis. The brain starts to form new connections. This helps the memory become less emotional and distressing.
Key features of this phase include:
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Gradual reduction in emotional distress.
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The memory is more distant or less vivid.
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Spontaneous insights or shifts in perspective.
This process does not require reliving trauma in detail. Instead, it allows us to reprocess the memory in a way that allows you to think and feel about it differently. Usually, with more understanding and insight.
5. Installation
After the distress from the memory lessens, the focus shifts to building positive beliefs.
In this phase, the therapist helps you strengthen or "install" a belief. This belief should feel empowering, realistic, and match who you are as a person.
Examples might include:
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“I am safe now.”
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“I did the best I could.”
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“I am capable and resilient.”
Bilateral stimulation helps strengthen these positive beliefs. This makes them more deeply integrated with less of a disconnect between what you know and what you believe about yourself. For instance, you may know that you are safe, smart, or lovable, but may not believe or feel that way. This phase integrates your knowledge and beliefs about yourself into one.
The installation phase supports:
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Strengthening self-compassion
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Replacing shame or self-blame
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Enhancing confidence and self-worth
This stage helps with healing. It's not just about reducing distress. It's also about creating stronger, supportive beliefs about yourself.
6. Body Scan
The body scan phase recognizes the mind-body link as it involves "scanning" for any residual physical disturbance or distress. It makes sure healing has happened physically as well as emotionally.
During this stage, the therapist walks you through the body scan. You begin by mentally scanning your body from head to toe.
If physical sensations are present:
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Bilateral stimulation may be used to process them.
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The body is allowed to release stored tension naturally.
This phase shows that trauma can stay in the body. True healing means finding relief both physically and emotionally.
7. Closure
Every EMDR session ends with closure to ensure you leave feeling grounded and stable.
Closure is key when a memory isn't fully processed by the end of the session. The therapist helps you return to a calm state and reminds you of the coping strategies available to you.
Closure may involve:
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Grounding or relaxation exercises
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Visualization techniques
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Reflecting on the progress made during the session
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Reinforcing emotional safety
This stage helps with emotional regulation between sessions. It also keeps a sense of continuity and care during therapy.
8. Re-evaluation
Re-evaluation happens at the start of each session. It helps the therapist and client check on his or her progress since the previous session.
In this stage, the therapist checks:
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Whether previously processed memories remain neutral.
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Whether new material has emerged.
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How current symptoms have shifted.
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Remaining treatment goals
Re-evaluation helps to:
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Ensure lasting results
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Identify the next steps in therapy
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Adjust the treatment plan as needed
This ongoing assessment keeps EMDR therapy effective and in tune with your needs.
A Thoughtful, Structured Path Toward Healing
The eight stages of EMDR therapy offer a flexible framework. It focuses on safety, collaboration, and empowerment. Each phase is vital for helping the brain and body reprocess painful experiences. It also builds resilience and emotional strength.
EMDR therapy doesn't erase memories. Instead, it changes how we store and feel about them. During this process, people often notice that memories feel less intense. Negative beliefs are less present or gone altogether, and people start to feel more like their true selves.
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