Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy that uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements) to help clients process and integrate distressing memories, reducing their emotional impact. EMDR sometimes offers rapid relief for trauma symptoms, often in fewer sessions than traditional therapy. It empowers clients to reprocess traumatic memories, often in a way that can be more gentle than other types of trauma-focused therapies because there can be less need for verbally describing past traumatic events. 

Who Might Benefit

EMDR is particularly beneficial for individuals with a history of trauma or PTSD. It can be equally effective for those who have experienced a single incident of trauma (e.g., an assault or accident) or for those who have experienced repeated traumas throughout their lives (e.g., recurring childhood abuse).  EMDR has also been shown to be an effective treatment for other conditions as well, such as anxiety disorders. 

Common Conditions Treated

Helpful Resources