What Is EMDR — and How Can It Help You Heal?

If you’ve been through something painful — especially trauma — you might feel like part of you is still stuck in survival mode. You may be high-functioning on the outside, but inside, you feel anxious, numb, easily triggered, or just tired of reliving the same emotional pain again. That is where EMDR therapy can help! 

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a powerful, evidence-based therapy that helps your brain and body finally process the trauma it never got a chance to fully heal from. Instead of talking about your pain over and over, EMDR helps your brain “unstick” from painful memories and move toward peace.

A Gentle Way to Help the Brain Heal

Think of your brain like a filing cabinet. Most of the time, when something hard happens, your brain processes it, files it away, and moves on. But when something traumatic happens — especially sexual abuse, emotional neglect, or generational trauma — the memory doesn’t get filed properly. It stays “live” in your nervous system, like a flashing red folder that keeps opening, even when you don’t want it to. EMDR works by helping your brain finally file those painful experiences in the right place — without erasing the memory, but removing the emotional charge that keeps you stuck.

What Happens During an EMDR Session?

Here’s what it’s not: You’re not re-traumatized. You’re not forced to relive everything in detail.

Here’s what it is: You’re guided, gently and safely, to process what your body still remembers — using tools like bilateral stimulation (such as following gentle eye movements or tapping). These movements help both sides of your brain work together to reprocess the trauma and complete what was never finished.

Let me give you a picture:

Imagine you’re driving and suddenly hit a pothole that damages your tire. For months, your car keeps pulling to one side — no matter how hard you try to steer straight. EMDR is like realigning the wheels. It doesn’t erase the pothole, but it helps your “system” stop reacting to it over and over.

What Does EMDR Help With?

EMDR has been proven to help with:

• Post-Traumatic Stress (PTSD)

• Sexual abuse and assault

• Childhood trauma and neglect

• Anxiety, panic attacks, and chronic stress

• Grief, loss, and life transitions

• Immigrant identity and cultural trauma

• Shame, self-criticism, and low self-worth

  
  

Does EMDR Really Work?

Yes — and there’s science to back it up.

Over 30 years of research shows that EMDR is one of the most effective treatments for trauma. According to the World Health Organization, EMDR is recommended as a first-line treatment for PTSD. Many clients experience significant relief in fewer sessions than traditional talk therapy.

As someone trained in EMDR and grounded in trauma-informed care, I’ve seen how clients go from simply surviving to truly living — reconnecting with their purpose, finding joy again, and feeling safe in their own skin.

A Faith-Based Perspective on Healing

As a Christian therapist, I believe God created our minds and bodies with the ability to heal. EMDR is one of the ways we can participate in that healing process — honoring the way God designed our nervous systems while gently releasing the pain that no longer serves us.

When trauma overwhelms us, we can lose touch with the truth of who we are: beloved, worthy, and whole in Christ. EMDR can help remove the barriers that keep us from experiencing God’s peace, presence, and purpose.

If you’re longing to reclaim your identity, renew your faith, and step out of survival mode, I would be honored to walk with you.