What Is EMDR and How Can It Help Me Find Peace With What Happened?
Seeking Peace Within
Sometimes we carry the past not just in our minds, but in our bodies. A memory, a sound, a place—it all lives just beneath the surface, showing up when we least expect it. Even after talking it through, understanding it logically, or trying to “move on,” something can still feel stuck.
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a therapeutic approach developed to help people gently process and release distressing memories and the emotional charge that comes with them.
How EMDR Works
EMDR uses a technique called bilateral stimulation, often through eye movements, tapping, or sound. While recalling a memory or emotion, the bilateral stimulation helps the brain reprocess the experience—essentially untangling it from the distressing thoughts, feelings, and sensations it may be linked to.
This isn’t about erasing the memory. It’s about helping the body and mind finally register: this is over. I am safe now.
Link idea: Learn more about how EMDR works – EMDRIA.org
Why Trauma Sometimes Gets “Stuck”
When something overwhelming happens, the nervous system can go into overdrive—fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. If the experience isn’t fully processed, it can get “stored” in a way that keeps us reliving it, even subtly, through anxiety, hypervigilance, disconnection, or somatic symptoms.
EMDR taps into the brain’s natural ability to heal, even years after the event. Many people find that after EMDR, the memory remains, but it no longer hijacks the present.
Who EMDR Can Support
EMDR has been researched extensively and is used for:
PTSD and complex trauma
Anxiety and panic
Grief and loss
Attachment wounds
Phobias
Medical trauma or chronic pain
Early developmental trauma
It’s not limited to a single diagnosis or story. It’s about how the past continues to live in the present—and how we can shift that.
What EMDR Might Feel Like
Many describe EMDR as gentle yet deep. Sessions often include grounding and resourcing practices to help build internal safety before diving into more charged material. The process follows a structured 8-phase protocol, but it can be paced to meet where you are—especially important for those with complex or early trauma.
It’s not about reliving the trauma. It’s about processing it in a way that doesn’t re-traumatize.
A Body-Based, Integrative Approach
At its best, EMDR doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It can work beautifully alongside somatic practices, Internal Family Systems (IFS), parts work, or energy-based healing. Each person’s nervous system is different, and EMDR can be adapted accordingly.
Sometimes it’s not just about one event, but the slow accumulation of experiences that taught the body to stay on alert. EMDR can help untangle those layers, at a pace that feels safe and supported.
