Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, known as EMDR, is one of the most well-researched and effective psychotherapy approaches available for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is recommended by the World Health Organization, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. At Elite Psychology & Wellness in Scottsdale, our licensed therapists provide EMDR as part of a comprehensive trauma-informed approach to mental health care.
What Is EMDR and Where Did It Come From?
EMDR was developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Francine Shapiro, who noticed that certain eye movements seemed to reduce the emotional intensity of distressing thoughts. Over subsequent decades, the approach was formalized, researched extensively, and refined into a structured eight-phase protocol. While eye movements were the original bilateral stimulation used, current EMDR practice also uses auditory tones or tactile tapping, alternating stimulation of the left and right sides of the body.
How Does EMDR Work?
The theoretical basis of EMDR is the Adaptive Information Processing model, which proposes that psychological distress results from traumatic memories that were not fully processed at the time of the event, leaving them stored in a raw, fragmented form that continues to be activated by present-day triggers. EMDR facilitates the processing and integration of these stuck memories, allowing them to be stored as ordinary autobiographical memories rather than ongoing sources of distress.
The Eight Phases of EMDR
- Phase 1: History taking and treatment planning
- Phase 2: Preparation, establishing safety, coping resources, and explaining the process
- Phase 3: Assessment, identifying the target memory and its associated beliefs, emotions, and body sensations
- Phases 4–7: Processing, the active EMDR work using bilateral stimulation
- Phase 8: Reevaluation, reviewing progress and addressing incomplete processing
Who Can Benefit From EMDR?
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from single-incident or complex trauma
- Anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic disorder
- Phobias and specific fears
- Depression with underlying traumatic roots
- Grief and loss
- Performance anxiety in athletes, performers, and professionals
- Attachment-related difficulties and relationship patterns rooted in early adverse experiences
What EMDR Is Not
EMDR is not hypnosis, clients are fully conscious and in control throughout. It does not require patients to talk extensively about their traumatic experiences in a re-traumatizing way. It is not a quick fix, meaningful EMDR work takes time, and the number of sessions required depends on the complexity and nature of the presenting material.
How EMDR Compares to Traditional Talk Therapy
Many patients who have had limited success with traditional talk therapy for trauma find that EMDR produces meaningful change more efficiently. This is because EMDR targets the neurological storage of traumatic memory directly, rather than working primarily through insight and cognitive reframing. For trauma-related presentations, EMDR is often a superior or complementary option to approaches that rely primarily on verbal processing.
Elite Psychology & Wellness provides EMDR therapy to individuals in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tempe, and the greater Arizona area. To schedule an EMDR consultation, connect with our therapy team today.
