Is EMDR Right for You? 5 Signs to Consider
I remember my immediate reaction when I first heard about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy:
“This is hippie woo-woo — there’s no way it actually works.”
I kept hearing about this therapy people were calling “magic,” “life-changing,” and all the other buzzwords. Honestly, I was skeptical.
It wasn’t until I experienced EMDR as a client that I understood what everyone was talking about. During my EMDR training, we practiced the method on one another in small groups. When it was my turn, I was told:
"Think of a client you feel stuck with, and we’ll ‘float back’ to see if it connects to any past life events."
Lo and behold, my brain connected that stuck feeling with a childhood memory from when I was five years old — a memory I didn’t even know I had. That moment changed everything for me. I knew then that EMDR would be a game changer in my clinical work and in my personal life.
EMDR is traditionally used as a form of trauma therapy. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA, 2025) defines it as:
“A structured therapy that encourages the patient to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation… which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories.”
In other words, EMDR helps people process distressing memories so they can shift their emotional response. I often tell clients that the goal of EMDR is to create a more neutral, balanced relationship with the traumatic event — not to erase the memory, but to take away its power.
Wondering if EMDR could help you? As a Marriage and Family Therapist certified in EMDR, here are five signs I often see that suggest it might be the right fit.
1. You’re Replaying the Same Distressing Memories
If certain memories keep popping up — either as flashbacks, nightmares, or just intrusive thoughts — it may mean your brain hasn’t fully processed the experience. EMDR helps reprocess these memories so they no longer feel like they’re happening “right now.”
Example: You were in a car accident years ago but still feel panicked every time you get behind the wheel.
2. You’re Stuck in the Same Emotional Reactions
You might logically know you’re safe now, but your body still reacts with fear, shame, or anger in situations that remind you of a past experience. EMDR targets the root of these reactions and helps your nervous system respond differently.
Example: You get overwhelmed or shut down during conflict, even when the situation is minor — and you don’t fully understand why.
3. You’ve Talked About the Problem, but Nothing Changes
Talk therapy can bring awareness, but sometimes insight alone doesn’t shift deeply seeded patterns. EMDR works differently — it helps the brain rewire the emotional and somatic responses linked to old wounds.
Example: You've been in therapy and understand your trauma, but you still feel triggered or stuck.
4. You Have Physical Symptoms That Don’t Have a Clear Medical Cause
Chronic pain, tension, or fatigue — especially when no physical diagnosis explains it — can be your body’s way of holding unprocessed emotional trauma. EMDR can support healing at the mind-body level.
Example: You carry tightness in your chest or shoulders whenever you feel “not good enough,” and it’s exhausting.
5. You Struggle with Negative Core Beliefs
If you find yourself thinking things like, “I’m not safe,” “I’m not good enough,” or “I can’t trust anyone,” EMDR can help shift these beliefs by targeting the experiences that shaped them.
Example: Even after years of success, a part of you still feels like a failure or like you’re not worthy of love.
If any of these signs resonate with you, know that you're not broken — your brain and body are doing their best to protect you based on what you've been through. EMDR offers a powerful, evidence-based way to help your system finally release what's no longer serving you. Healing doesn't mean forgetting — it means finding freedom from the past so you can live more fully in the present. If you're curious about whether EMDR might be a good fit, I’d be honored to walk that path with you.
References
EMDRIA. (2023). What is EMDR Therapy? Retrieved from https://www.emdria.org
Greenwald, R. (2013). EMDR within a Phase Model of Trauma-Informed Treatment. Routledge.
Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
Solomon, R. M., & Shapiro, F. (2008). EMDR and the adaptive information processing model. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 2(4), 315–325.
van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.