What is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy developed in 1987 to help people heal from trauma and other mental health struggles.

How trauma affects the brain

Normally, your brain processes daily experiences automatically. But overwhelming events — like accidents or childhood neglect — can “freeze” painful memories in the brain. These stuck memories can keep triggering anxiety, anger, or despair in the present, even when you’ve forgotten the original event.

How EMDR works

A therapist guides you to recall a troubling memory while following a moving finger (or light/sound) with your eyes. This mimics what the brain naturally does during deep sleep. Over repeated sets of these eye movements, painful memories gradually lose their emotional charge and become just neutral past events.

What it treats

PTSD, anxiety, depression, phobias, grief, anger, addiction, sleep problems, low self-esteem, and more.

Key things to know

• You stay fully awake and in control throughout

• It’s not hypnosis — you can stop anytime

• Sessions typically run 60–90 minutes

• Some people see results after just one session

• It’s backed by extensive research and recognized by major medical organizations​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​