EMDR therapy · Online in Utah & California
When the past keeps showing up in the present.
Some experiences don't stay in the past. They show up as a reaction that's bigger than the moment, a belief about yourself you can't shake, or a relationship pattern that keeps repeating. EMDR helps your brain reprocess those memories so they lose their charge.
In short
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps people process distressing memories. While briefly focusing on a memory, you follow bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or tapping. Over time, the memory feels less intense and more adaptive beliefs can take hold. EMDR is recommended by the World Health Organization for post-traumatic stress.
What EMDR can help with
Not only for “big-T” trauma
Past trauma
Painful relationship experiences
Betrayal or a hard breakup
Childhood experiences
Grief and loss
Anxiety and panic
Beliefs like “I'm not enough”
Medical or birth experiences
Performance or public-speaking fears
Interactive · How EMDR works
See how a memory can get stuck, and how EMDR helps it move.
Step through what researchers think happens in the brain, from an overwhelming moment to a memory that no longer runs the show. It's a simplified picture, built from the published research.
Why might it work?
Three explanations researchers study
EMDR's results are well established. Exactly why it works is still being researched, and these ideas may each explain part of it.
The brain is built to heal what it can finish processing
EMDR's developer, Dr. Francine Shapiro, proposed that we all have a natural system for processing experiences. Usually it links new events to what we already know, so they settle into the past.
When something is overwhelming, that processing can stall. The memory stays stored in a raw form, with its original images, emotions, sensations and beliefs, and stays cut off from more helpful memory networks. That's why a present-day cue can bring the whole thing back.
EMDR is thought to restart that processing so the memory can connect with helpful information and resolve.
Your attention can only hold so much
Working memory is the small mental workspace you use to hold an image in mind. Recalling a painful memory takes up a lot of that space. So does following a moving target with your eyes.
Doing both at once means the memory image can't be held as sharply. In many laboratory experiments, recalling a memory while making eye movements made it less vivid and less emotional afterward than recall alone.
Studies suggest vividness tends to fade first, and emotional intensity follows.
A recalled memory can be updated
Neuroscience research shows that when a memory is brought back to mind, it can briefly become changeable before it's stored again. This is called reconsolidation.
Some researchers propose that EMDR creates the right conditions for this window, so the memory is saved again with less distress and a more accurate belief attached.
This idea is newer and still being tested.
What to expect
EMDR follows a structured eight-phase protocol
The highlighted phases are the ones you explored above. Preparation always comes first, so you feel steady before any memory work begins.
- History & planning
Your story, your goals, and which memories to work on.
- Preparation
Grounding and calming skills, so you feel in control.
- Assessment
Name the image, the belief, the feelings, and rate distress from 0 to 10.
- Desensitization
Short sets of eye movements, taps or tones until distress falls.
- Installation
Strengthen a healthier belief, rated from 1 to 7.
- Body scan
Notice and clear any tension that remains.
- Closure
End each session feeling settled, with tools for the week.
- Reevaluation
Check progress next time and choose what's next.
The evidence
Recommended by major treatment guidelines
- U.S. VA/DoD PTSD guideline (2023)Recommends EMDR alongside cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure as an individual, trauma-focused psychotherapy for PTSD.
- ISTSS treatment guidelines (2018)The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies gives EMDR a strong recommendation for adults with PTSD.
- NICE guideline NG116 (2018)The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence includes EMDR among recommended PTSD treatments for adults.
- World Health Organization (2013)Recommends EMDR, along with trauma-focused CBT, for adults with PTSD.
- Landin-Romero et al., 2018A systematic review of proposed mechanisms, finding reasonable support for the working memory explanation.
- Hase et al., 2017Describes the adaptive information processing model and how memories can be stored in an unprocessed form.
This illustration is simplified for learning. In real sessions, distress doesn't always fall in a straight line, and a memory may take several sessions. EMDR is offered after preparation and only when it's a good fit. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.
An integrative approach
Three approaches that strengthen each other
EMDR rarely works alone in Erin's practice. Psychodynamic exploration, DBT skills, and EMDR each do something different, and where they overlap is where lasting change tends to happen. Tap any part of the diagram.
In session, this might look like
- Understanding
Knowing why a pattern exists shows which memories to process and which skills you need.
- Steadiness
Skills keep you grounded enough to explore painful material and process it safely.
- Healing
As old memories lose their charge, new insight surfaces and new skills become easier to use.
Questions
EMDR therapy FAQ
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail?
No. One of the benefits of EMDR is that it doesn't require you to describe every detail of a painful experience out loud. You share enough for us to identify what to work on, and much of the processing happens internally.
Does EMDR work online?
Yes. EMDR can be done effectively by secure video, using on-screen visual cues or tapping that you do yourself. Many clients find it easier to settle into the work from the comfort of home. We'll make sure you have a quiet, private space and a plan for grounding after sessions.
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
It varies. A single distressing event may need relatively few processing sessions, while long-standing or childhood experiences usually take longer. Preparation comes first, and we'll review your progress together as we go.
Is EMDR the same as hypnosis?
No. You're fully awake, aware, and in control throughout an EMDR session. You can pause or stop at any time.
Can EMDR help with relationship patterns?
Often, yes. Many relationship patterns, like fear of abandonment, difficulty trusting, or freezing during conflict, are linked to earlier experiences. EMDR can reduce the emotional charge of those experiences so new ways of relating feel possible.
Is EMDR right for everyone?
Not always right away. Before processing, we make sure you have enough stability and coping skills to work safely. If EMDR isn't the right fit yet, we'll use other approaches first and revisit it later.
The past can lose its grip. Let's talk about how.
A free 15-minute call is a low-pressure way to see if we're a good fit. Tell me a little about what's going on, ask anything you'd like, and leave with a clear next step either way.
Online therapy for adults located in Utah and California. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or dial 911.
