EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing though it does not have much to do with the eyes. We use bi-lateral movement stimulation. Sometimes I might wave my hand in front of your eyes back and forth, or we can get the same effects with bi-lateral body movement, like tapping and headsets using alternating beeps.

You likely have bad memories that you are at peace with, that is an example of how the brain is working as it should. Sometimes memories get stuck in the information processing system of the brain, along with pictures, sounds, smells, tastes, emotions and body sensations, which were all part of the original experience. When memories are stuck, this is where EMDR, “desensitizes and reprocesses” the memory, helping your brain reprocess the memory, to a point of remembering the event that it no longer bothers you and you have peace with it.

Science does not know exactly what happens in the brain during EMDR, we think it might be similar to the dream stage of sleep, your REM state. EMDR may be a kind of accelerated, conscious version of REM sleep.

During an EMDR session, you think of an issue or traumatic memory and we do a number of bi-lateral sets. Like a metaphor of watching a movie or sitting in a train watching the scene go by. All you have to do is notice and let it go by. Your brain is going to take you where you need to go. You need to know that you might experience intense emotions, both during EMDR sessions and perhaps between sessions. This can be difficult and tiring emotional work. You may need to really take extra gentle care of yourself in this work.