Therapy Approaches 10 min read

What Is EMDR Therapy and How Does It Work? A Therapist's Guide

Mohamad Shabib

MACP, CCC · June 30, 2026

If you've been researching trauma therapy, you've probably come across the term EMDR. It sounds clinical. Maybe even a little mysterious. But EMDR — Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — is one of the most well-researched and effective treatments for trauma, PTSD, and a range of other conditions. And it doesn't require you to talk through every painful detail of what happened.

As an advanced EMDR-trained therapist who has worked with first responders, refugees, and individuals living with complex trauma, I want to explain what EMDR actually is — in plain language — so you can decide if it might be right for you.

What Does EMDR Stand For?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It was developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Francine Shapiro. The therapy uses bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements, but sometimes tapping or auditory tones — to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories that have become "stuck."

When something traumatic happens, your brain sometimes stores the memory in a way that keeps it feeling fresh and overwhelming — as if it's still happening. EMDR helps your brain move that memory into long-term storage, where it can be recalled without the intense emotional charge.

How Does an EMDR Session Work?

EMDR follows a structured eight-phase approach. Here's what that looks like in practice:

1.History and treatment planning — We talk about what brought you to therapy and identify the memories or experiences to work on.
2.Preparation — I teach you grounding and coping techniques so you feel safe throughout the process.
3.Assessment — We identify the specific memory, the negative belief connected to it, and what you'd like to believe instead.
4.Desensitization — Using bilateral stimulation (eye movements or tapping), we process the memory. This is the core of EMDR.
5.Installation — We strengthen the positive belief you want to associate with the memory.
6.Body scan — We check for any remaining physical tension or distress related to the memory.
7.Closure — Each session ends with stabilization, ensuring you leave feeling grounded.
8.Re-evaluation — At the start of the next session, we check progress and decide what to work on next.

How long EMDR takes varies widely from person to person, and depends on what you are working on and how much preparation is needed first. You will get a more meaningful estimate after the first few sessions than any web page can offer in advance. The pace is always set by you — there is no rushing.

What Conditions Does EMDR Treat?

EMDR was originally developed for PTSD, but research now supports its use for a wide range of conditions:

→ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD)
→ Anxiety and panic attacks
→ Depression related to traumatic experiences
→ Grief and loss
→ Phobias and fears
→ Performance anxiety
→ Childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
→ First responder and occupational trauma

Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychological Association (APA) recognize EMDR as an effective treatment for trauma.

EMDR vs. Talk Therapy: What's the Difference?

Traditional talk therapy — like CBT — works by helping you change your thoughts about what happened. EMDR works differently. Rather than analyzing the trauma, EMDR helps your brain's natural healing process move the memory from being a present-tense emotional experience to a past-tense one.

Many clients tell me that after EMDR, they can still remember what happened, but it no longer carries the same emotional weight. The memory becomes something that happened to them — not something that defines them.

This is particularly important for people who find it difficult or re-traumatizing to talk at length about their experiences. EMDR doesn't require you to describe every detail — the processing happens internally.

Does EMDR Work Online?

Yes. Virtual EMDR is effective and well-supported by research. At TEO Counselling, all our sessions are virtual, and we've found that many clients actually feel more comfortable doing EMDR from the safety of their own home. We use screen-based bilateral stimulation that works just as well as in-person eye movements.

Because we're a virtual practice, we can offer EMDR therapy to anyone in British Columbia — whether you're in Nanaimo, Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, or a rural community where finding a specialized trauma therapist would otherwise be difficult.

What to Expect in Your First EMDR Session

Your first session isn't EMDR right away. We start with getting to know each other, understanding what brought you to therapy, and making sure you feel safe. I'll teach you some grounding techniques and we'll talk about how EMDR works in more detail.

Most people begin the actual EMDR processing in session two or three. There's no pressure to move faster than feels right for you.

Is EMDR Right for You?

EMDR isn't for everyone, and that's okay. During our free initial consultation, we'll talk about what you're experiencing and whether EMDR — or another approach like IFS or the Gottman Method — would be the best fit for your situation.

If you've been carrying something heavy — whether it's a single traumatic event or years of accumulated stress and pain — EMDR can help you put it down. You don't have to keep reliving it to heal from it.

Ready to take the first step?

Book a free, no-pressure consultation. We'll talk about what you're going through and figure out together if we're the right fit.

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