EMDR Therapy | Trauma Processing & Healing

• Give yourself time before and after sessions: EMDR can continue to move through your system after the appointment ends. When possible, avoid scheduling something highly demanding immediately afterward so your body has room to settle and integrate.
• Notice what changes without forcing meaning: You may have dreams, memories, sensations, emotions, or subtle shifts in how you feel. You do not need to interpret everything right away. Brief notes can help you track what is emerging without turning it into a project.
• Use grounding between sessions: Simple practices like feeling your feet, naming what you see, holding something textured, or noticing the temperature in the room can help your system reconnect to the present when material feels active.
• Tell your therapist if something feels too fast: EMDR should include pacing and consent. If you feel flooded, distant, pressured, or unsure, that is important information. Slowing down is part of the work, not a failure of the work.
• Stay close to ordinary rhythms: Food, water, rest, gentle movement, and predictable routines can support your nervous system as it processes. Integration often happens through small daily anchors, not only through insight.

EMDR therapy is widely recognized as an evidence-based treatment for PTSD, but there has been some debate about why it works and how much of the benefit comes from the eye movements or bilateral stimulation versus other parts of the therapy, such as exposure, memory processing, and therapeutic support.  The VA’s National Center for PTSD describes EMDR as an evidence-based therapy for PTSD, while also noting that comparative evidence between trauma-focused treatments can be limited.

In my practice, I do not treat EMDR as a magic technique or a one-size-fits-all solution. I hold it within a relational, trauma-informed, and somatic framework, which means we pay attention to preparation, pacing, consent, and what your body can actually hold. The question is not only whether EMDR “works,” but whether it is being offered in a way that feels safe, grounded, and appropriate for your system

EMDR may not be recommended, or may need to be delayed, when someone does not yet have enough stabilization, support, or capacity to stay connected during trauma processing. This can include times when someone is in acute crisis, actively unsafe, highly dissociated, overwhelmed by daily functioning, or without enough grounding skills or external support. EMDR may also need extra caution when there are complex medical concerns, seizure history, certain neurological conditions, active substance use concerns, or severe psychiatric instability.

This does not always mean EMDR is never possible. It may mean we begin with preparation first. In my work, I would rather move slowly and build enough safety than rush into memory processing before your nervous system is ready. A careful assessment helps us decide whether EMDR is appropriate now, whether another form of support should come first, or whether EMDR needs to be adapted.

EMDR therapy can sometimes bring up temporary distress, emotional intensity, vivid dreams, fatigue, body sensations, memories, or feelings between sessions. The EMDR Institute notes that, as with other forms of psychotherapy, there may be a temporary increase in distress, and Cleveland Clinic describes negative thoughts or feelings between sessions as among the more common negative effects.

This does not mean something is wrong. It can mean your system is processing material that had been held out of awareness or carried in the body. In our work, we talk about what to expect, how to ground afterward, and how to let me know if something feels too fast, too much, or difficult to manage. EMDR should include enough preparation and integration so you are not left alone with what opens.

If you have epilepsy or a history of seizures, EMDR requires extra caution and coordination. It is important to speak with your physician or neurologist before beginning EMDR, and to let your therapist know about any seizure history, triggers, medications, or neurological concerns. Some EMDR-related research has explored seizure-related PTSD and anxiety, but this does not replace individualized medical guidance.

EMDR does not always have to involve eye movements. Some therapists may use other forms of bilateral stimulation, such as tapping or auditory tones, when clinically appropriate. In my practice, safety would come first. We would discuss your medical history, coordinate care when needed, and decide whether EMDR is appropriate, whether it needs adaptation, or whether another approach would better support your nervous system.

After EMDR therapy, it is usually helpful to avoid overloading your system right away. When possible, try not to schedule intense conversations, major decisions, demanding work, or highly activating situations immediately after a session. Your brain and body may continue processing after you leave, and giving yourself some space can support integration.

You do not need to analyze everything that comes up. It can be enough to notice dreams, memories, sensations, emotions, or shifts and write down a few notes if that feels supportive. Gentle movement, water, food, rest, time outside, or a quiet transition can help your body orient. If you feel flooded, unusually distressed, dissociated, or unable to settle after a session, that is important information to bring back into therapy so we can slow down and adjust the work.