Written by the Journey Inward Counseling clinical team.
You’ve probably heard the word EMDR somewhere before you understood what it meant: a friend mentioned it, a therapist suggested it, or you came across it while trying to understand why a difficult memory still feels close even though the event itself is long over. EMDR therapy is a real, structured approach, and it’s worth understanding in plain language before you decide whether to ask a therapist about it.
Table of Contents
- Why EMDR Sounds Strange Until You Understand It
- What EMDR Therapy Actually Is, in Plain Language
- What a Session Tends to Involve
- What EMDR Is Typically Used For
- What EMDR Doesn’t Replace
- Who Tends to Find EMDR Useful
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why EMDR Sounds Strange Until You Understand It
EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. The name alone tends to raise eyebrows, since the most visible part of a session, following a therapist’s hand or a light back and forth with your eyes, doesn’t look like what most people picture when they picture therapy. That unfamiliarity is usually the whole reason people research it before trying it, which is a reasonable instinct.
If thinking about a difficult experience brings up thoughts of harming yourself, you do not have to wait for an appointment to get support.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988. Available 24/7.
- Crisis Text Line. Text HOME to 741741. Available 24/7.
- Colorado Crisis Services. Call or text 988, or find an in-person walk-in location at 988colorado.com. Available 24/7.
If this is a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
What EMDR Therapy Actually Is, in Plain Language
The idea behind EMDR is that a distressing memory can get stored in a way that keeps it feeling present and unprocessed, almost like it’s still happening, rather than settling into something you can think about without it taking over. EMDR uses a structured process, along with bilateral stimulation (alternating left-right input, usually eye movements, taps, or sounds) to help the brain work through that memory in a way that tends to reduce how charged it feels over time. Researchers don’t fully agree on exactly why the bilateral piece helps, but the structured, phased approach itself is well documented in the clinical literature.
If you want to read further, the American Psychological Association and the EMDR International Association both publish overviews of the approach. For how EMDR is offered here, see our EMDR Therapy page.
What a Session Tends to Involve
An EMDR session generally starts the same way any of our individual therapy sessions do: checking in, and talking through what you want to focus on. From there, the format is more structured than open-ended talk therapy. Your therapist will guide you to briefly bring a specific memory or moment to mind, along with the thoughts and feelings connected to it, while you follow a back-and-forth pattern, usually with your eyes, sometimes with taps or sound. This happens in short sets, with pauses in between to check in on what’s coming up.
It’s normal for this to feel different from talking therapy, more internally focused, sometimes quieter than you’d expect. Some people notice things shifting fairly quickly within a session; for others, it takes more time and more sessions before a memory feels different to sit with. Both are normal, and neither is a sign that it’s working or not working.
If you would like to talk through whether EMDR fits what you are dealing with, you can request an EMDR consultation, or call the office at (720) 263-0334.
What EMDR Is Typically Used For
EMDR is most often discussed in connection with a single distressing event, an accident, a frightening experience, a loss, though it’s also used for experiences that built up gradually rather than happening once. It’s also sometimes used alongside other approaches for anxiety, grief, or the kind of persistent tension in your body that doesn’t seem to respond to talking things through alone. If body-based work interests you, you can also read about trauma-focused yoga as a related approach.
None of that means EMDR is the right or only tool for a specific experience; it’s one option among several trauma-informed approaches, and part of an initial conversation with a clinician is figuring out together whether it fits what you’re bringing in.
What EMDR Doesn’t Replace
EMDR is a form of therapy, not a substitute for medical or psychiatric care. If you’re also working with a physician or a psychiatrist, EMDR is meant to work alongside that care, not instead of it, and a clinician offering EMDR should be glad to coordinate with the rest of your care team rather than treating medication or medical treatment as something to move away from.
Who Tends to Find EMDR Useful
People who tend to find EMDR useful are often looking for something beyond talking through an experience repeatedly without it feeling different afterward. That said, it’s not the right fit for everyone, and a good first conversation with a clinician includes an honest read on whether your specific situation and goals line up with what EMDR offers, rather than assuming it’s the default answer. If EMDR doesn’t sound like the right starting point after that conversation, that’s useful information too, not a dead end.
If you want a sense of what an initial conversation with a therapist looks like before you get to a specific modality like EMDR, our related article on what to expect in your first therapy session covers the general shape of that first meeting.
When you are ready, you can request an EMDR consultation or call the office at (720) 263-0334.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for therapy, medical advice, or an individualized clinical assessment. If you are in crisis, see the crisis resources above, or call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does EMDR actually stand for?
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. The name describes the structured, phased process a therapist guides you through, including the bilateral eye movement, tapping, or sound component the approach is known for.
What does an EMDR session feel like?
Sessions tend to feel more internally focused than typical talk therapy. You’ll briefly bring a specific memory or moment to mind while following a back-and-forth pattern, with pauses to check in on what’s coming up for you.
Does EMDR really work?
EMDR is a well-documented, structured approach used for trauma-related and other distressing experiences. How it works for a specific person varies, and a first conversation with a clinician is the best way to talk through whether it fits your situation.
How many EMDR sessions does it usually take?
It varies by person and by what you’re working through. Some people notice a shift within several sessions; others need more time. Your clinician can give you a general sense after an initial conversation, not a fixed number in advance.
Can EMDR be done over telehealth?
Many clinicians offer EMDR by video as well as in person, using adapted techniques for the bilateral stimulation component. Ask directly when you reach out whether telehealth EMDR is available with a specific clinician.
