EMDR

An overview of EMDR’s origins, the concerns it effectively treats, the key phases and tools used in the EMDR therapy, and its surprising applications in healing past-life wounds.

The Birth of EMDR:

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) may sound technical, but its beginnings were surprisingly organic. In the late 1980s, psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro noticed something intriguing—moving her eyes side to side seemed to reduce the emotional intensity of distressing thoughts. Curious about this effect, she explored the phenomenon further and developed a structured approach that became EMDR therapy.

Initially met with skepticism, EMDR quickly gained credibility as research showed its effectiveness in treating trauma, particularly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Today, EMDR is widely used not only for treating PTSD but also for conditions like anxiety, depression, and other emotional challenges. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not require extensive verbal processing. Instead, it helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer feel overwhelming.

At its core, EMDR is built on the idea that unprocessed memories keep us stuck in looping stress cycles that manifest as psychological and somatic symptoms. By engaging the brain’s natural healing ability, EMDR helps release these emotional burdens, allowing individuals to move forward with a greater sense of ease and peace. In its most profound moments, it can shift individuals from merely surviving to truly thriving.

EMDR Applications:

EMDR first gained recognition for its effectiveness in treating PTSD, particularly among veterans and survivors of traumatic events. Unlike traditional therapy approaches that emphasize verbal processing, EMDR engages the body’s innate healing ability by facilitating non-verbal, internal reprocessing that taps into the nervous system directly. They say the eyes are the window to the soul, but EMDR has proven that the eyes are at least a window to the nervous system.

This internal healing process is orchestrated by the nervous

system’s interaction with bilateral stimulation—the rhythmic

movement of the eyes from left to right. As the primary tool

for reprocessing disturbing memories, bilateral stimulation

gradually decrease the emotional charge surrounding

memories, increasing the client’s capacity to face and fully

reintegrate the trauma. This organic process allows the

body’s internal healing system to set the pace, determine

which content arises, and regulate how it is re-experienced.

The client does not consciously coordinated these internal

factors. Rather, the client becomes a witness to their own

healing process, safely revisiting past events in a way that

gradually restructures how those memories are stored in

both the mind and body. Processing traumatic events in the context of a supportive environment with a compassionate therapist adds essential layers of safety, making trauma healing possible.

Over the years, EMDR has evolved beyond PTSD treatment to address developmental trauma, complex trauma, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, grief, and low self-esteem. Due to its direct impact on the nervous system rather than relying solely on cognitive processing, EMDR can be especially beneficial to those who find it difficult to verbalize their experiences and those who do not have a clear corresponding memory to their symptoms. In my work with clients, I have seen EMDR help alleviate somatic symptoms with no clear memory correlation, particularly when physical discomfort continues without an underlying medical diagnosis.

Although originally structured as an eight-phase standalone therapy, EMDR’s evolution has also broadened its versatility. Integrative methods that combine EMDR with other modalities like mindfulness, somatic techniques, and clinical hypnosis can significantly enhance healing through a holistic approaches. This flexibility makes EMDR an invaluable tool for clients seeking deep-seated transformation and therapists looking for methods beyond traditional talk therapy to facilitate profound, lasting change.

EMDR’s adaptability has also proven valuable in the Telehealth arena. With mental health needs at an all-time high in 2020 due to COVID-19, therapists had no choice but to adapt, using the tools they had within the confines of their computer screens. Since those trying times, EMDR has shown to be just as effective whether performed in person or via live videos sessions. With the rising demand for Telehealth, EMDR trainings have also moved online, making certification more accessible and reducing financial barriers for providers. Online trainings have been particularly useful, offering hands-on instruction in how to safely and effectively provide EMDR therapy via Telehealth—ensuring clients can receive support no matter where they are.

The Process & Tools of EMDR:

EMDR follows an eight-phase framework designed to help individuals reprocess distressing memories in a safe and controlled way. The journey begins with history-taking and preparation, ensuring the client feels grounded before engaging with difficult material. During this stage, bilateral stimulation can also be introduced to increase internal resources, such as the Safe Place and Container techniques. These tools empower clients with self-regulation strategies they can use between sessions to manage distress if triggers arise.

A key part of preparing for trauma reprocessing is ensuring the client has effective coping and self-regulation skills. These self-soothing techniques can encompass a variety of practices but all share a common goal: soothing the nervous system and providing stability when overwhelming emotions surface. Once a solid foundation of self-regulation skills is in place and target memories are identified, the reprocessing phase can begin.

During reprocessing, the therapist guides the client

through bilateral stimulation—most commonly through bilateral eye movements, though tactile tapping or auditory tones can also be implemented. This rhythmic stimulation activates the brain’s natural ability to process and integrate memories in a way that reduces their emotional charge. As sessions progresses, distress associated with the memory fades, and new, more adaptive perspectives naturally emerge.

Despite the many EMDR session that I have facilitated, I remain in awe of the reprocessing phase. Watching a client’s perception of past trauma shift in real-time is a remarkable experience—one that speaks to the profound power of this method.

A defining feature of EMDR is its ability to transform how distressing memories are stored in the brain and experienced in the body. Rather than feeling like an open wound, past events are re-processed to reduce their emotional intensity. Previous triggers surface less frequently, if at all, and when they do arise, they feel different—less intrusive, less consuming. Many describe a newfound sense of lightness and inner peace, sometimes after just a few sessions.

EMDR reprocessing does not erase or alter memories, rather, it transforms the client’s relationship with them, fostering resilience, empowerment, and deeper self-understanding. By harnessing the brain’s natural capacity to heal, EMDR offers a profound path toward emotional freedom and lasting change. While not a cure-all, EMDR has established itself as a powerful modality for healing, helping individuals reclaim their lives from the grip of past experiences.

Healing Soul Wounds Through EMDR:

On the journey towards healing, the parts of the self longing for wholeness transcend theories and techniques — it is the call itself that matters most. Whether it is the call of the body, mind, or soul seeking integration, in my experience, EMDR has proven to be a profound tool in all three areas.

While EMDR is well-documented for its effectiveness in treating mental health disorders and physical symptoms rooted in present-life struggles, I’ve also been left in awe and wonder when clients bring what they believe to be past-life traumas into the EMDR process.

Past-life memory recall has become increasingly common as practices of clinical hypnosis, meditation retreats, holotropic breathwork, and other modalities involving non-ordinary sates of consciousness gain popularity. The nervous system does not differentiate between events occurring in the present, two years ago, or two lifetimes ago. If a trigger activates the nervous system’s fight-or-flight response, the person is unavoidably thrust into survival mode—regardless of the origin of the wound.

While no scientific research formally identifies EMDR as a method for processing past-life trauma, anecdotal evidence can be just as significant. The nervous system does not operate through logic—it responds only to the felt sense of safety or danger. When clients experience measurable healing—a reduction in the frequency and intensity of trauma triggers, improved emotional well-being, and more fulfilling relationships—perhaps we do not need science to validate that lost pieces of the self or soul have been reintegrated.

Clients who experience profound shifts in their present-day symptoms—linked in their view to past-life experiences—often hold a spiritual paradigm that includes reincarnation. While the mysteries of human consciousness are vast and remain largely unexplored by science, the undeniable anecdotal reality of profound personal transformation speaks for itself. When a client’s life significantly change for the better, healing has occurred, regardless of the framework through which it is understood.

Currently offering EMDR therapy through Telehealth in Portland and to Oregon residents.

REFERENCES:

Shapiro, F. (2001). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Basic principles, protocols, and procedures. Guilford Press.
van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Penguin Books.
Bisson, J. I., et al. (2013). Psychological therapies for chronic PTSD in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013(12). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003388.pub4
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). (n.d.). What is EMDR? Retrieved from https://www.emdria.org
Solomon, R. M., & Shapiro, F. (2008). EMDR and the adaptive information processing model. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 2(4), 315-325. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.2.4.315