Care with intention
Your past.
A different response.
Structured trauma-focused psychotherapy, with preparation and choice.
Watch a short EMDR introduction
A 3:45 guide from the VA National Center for PTSD.
VA National Center for PTSD · 3:45EMDR, explained
What the treatment involves, with explanations from clinicians.
Watch video (opens the publisher’s video in a new tab)EMDR at a glance
Prepare.
Process.
Review.
A simplified overview of a fuller phased treatment process.
Prepare
Understand your history. Build coping resources. Agree on the pace.
Process
Work with a selected memory through a clinician-guided process.
Review
Check your response. Return to the present. Plan the next step.
Why might EMDR help?
Research supports EMDR for PTSD. Treatment combines focused work with trauma memories and bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, sounds, or tapping. The aim is to reduce memory-related distress and develop more adaptive responses. Researchers continue to study exactly how its components produce change.
VA explanation of the evidence and proposed mechanismsEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a structured psychotherapy used to treat PTSD. It involves briefly attending to parts of a distressing memory alongside guided back-and-forth stimulation.
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Preparation is part of treatment.
Work begins with history, assessment, coping resources, and discussion of readiness. We consider safety, stability, and whether EMDR fits your needs before memory processing begins.
What happens in a session.
Guided stimulation can include eye movements, sounds, or tapping. During short sets, you may observe images, thoughts, emotions, or physical sensations. We check your responses, return attention to the present, and close the session with care.
You can ask questions or request a pause. Detailed verbal retelling varies with the person and the treatment process.
An organized process.
EMDR follows phases of history, preparation, assessment, processing, installation, body review, closure, and reevaluation. Treatment length varies. Recalling difficult experiences may bring discomfort; readiness and responses are reviewed throughout care.
Learn about EMDR from the VA (opens a new tab)Before you begin.
Will we start processing memories immediately?
The initial work includes history, treatment fit, and preparation. The decision to begin memory processing depends on the assessment and your readiness. You can ask what a proposed step involves before proceeding.
Do I have to describe every detail aloud?
EMDR generally involves bringing selected aspects of an experience to mind, while the amount of verbal detail varies. Discuss your concerns about disclosure with me so you understand what participation would involve.
What if I become overwhelmed?
Agree on a way to signal discomfort or request a pause before beginning. Your response informs the pace and the next step. Ask how sessions are brought to a close and what support arrangements apply between appointments.
Is EMDR the right choice for every trauma-related concern?
Treatment selection depends on the clinical picture, preferences, readiness, and available options. Assessment may support EMDR, another psychotherapy approach, additional preparation, or a different level of care. A consultation helps clarify that decision.