About eight years ago, I began my own therapy journey. I grew up in Jamaica, and having a parent who was a police officer meant that my family and I were more visible and, at times, more vulnerable to being targeted by criminal elements. There was one situation in particular that left a deep imprint on my nervous system. The fear lingered long after the event itself, to the point where the idea of living alone felt terrifying. When I later moved to Canada, I initially felt okay. That changed in 2017 when I was living alone in a small town. During the day, I functioned well. At night, fear would take over. I was already in therapy at the time, working through the loss of a loved one, and I briefly mentioned how difficult nights had become. My therapist suggested EMDR therapy as a way to address the trauma underlying these fears. At the same time, I was in graduate school. Not long after graduating, I made the decision to pursue formal training in EMDR. Quite simply, EMDR gave me the freedom to live again. What Is EMDR Therapy? EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy originally developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. EMDR is designed to help people process distressing or traumatic experiences that continue to affect them in the present (Shapiro, 2018). Traumatic experiences can overwhelm the brain’s natural ability to process information. When this happens, memories may become “stuck” in their original form, along with the emotions, body sensations, and beliefs that accompanied the event. EMDR helps the brain reprocess these memories so they can be integrated in a more adaptive and less distressing way. Today, EMDR is recognized by organizations such as the World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association as an effective treatment for trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (WHO, 2013; APA, 2017).
My Experience With EMDR
I will be honest. At first, I was not convinced. EMDR sounded a bit like “hokey pokey” to me. The idea that moving my eyes or engaging in bilateral stimulation could change how trauma lived in my body felt questionable. After my first session, however, I noticed something unexpected. I felt lighter. The dread of being alone in my home did not disappear completely, but it felt less overwhelming. By the third session, something had shifted more deeply. I could recall the traumatic experience without being flooded by fear. The memory was still there, but it no longer carried the same charge. For the first time in a long time, my nervous system felt safer. How Does EMDR Work? EMDR therapy follows an eight-phase, structured protocol that prioritizes safety, stabilization, and informed consent. During EMDR sessions, the therapist guides the client to briefly focus on a distressing memory while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation. This may include eye movements, alternating taps, or sounds. Research suggests that bilateral stimulation helps activate the brain’s natural information-processing system. This allows traumatic memories to be reprocessed and stored in a more adaptive way, similar to how memories are processed during REM sleep (Shapiro, 2018; van der Kolk, 2014). Over time, the emotional intensity of the memory decreases, negative beliefs shift, and the body no longer reacts as if the trauma is still happening. Importantly, EMDR does not require clients to go into graphic detail or repeatedly relive traumatic events, which can make it more tolerable for many people. Who Is EMDR Therapy For? EMDR is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and it is not appropriate for everyone at every stage of healing. Research indicates that EMDR is particularly well suited for individuals experiencing:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder and single-incident trauma
- Childhood trauma and attachment-related wounds
- Anxiety and panic related to past events
- Complicated grief and loss
- Medical trauma and accident-related trauma
EMDR can also be adapted for individuals with complex trauma when adequate stabilization, resourcing, and pacing are in place (Shapiro, 2018; Courtois & Ford, 2016). A thorough assessment with a trained clinician is essential to determine readiness and appropriateness.
EMDR at Healing Journey Collective
As a psychologist, I am advanced trained in EMDR therapy and continue to integrate it thoughtfully and ethically into my work. My own experience as a client informs my deep respect for the power of this modality and the care required to use it well. If you are curious about EMDR or wondering whether it might be a good fit for you, I invite you to reach out and connect. Healing does not mean forgetting what happened. It means being able to live fully without the past holding your nervous system hostage.
References
American Psychological Association. (2017). Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline
Courtois, C. A., & Ford, J. D. (2016). Treatment of complex trauma: A sequenced, relationship-based approach. Guilford Press.
Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.
World Health Organization. (2013). Guidelines for the management of conditions specifically related to stress. WHO Press.
