What Is EMDR? A Gentle, Powerful Therapy for Healing Trauma
- Randi Camirand
- Jan 7
- 3 min read
If you’ve ever wondered what is EMDR therapy and why so many therapists recommend it for trauma, anxiety, and overwhelm, you’re not alone.
EMDR—short for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing—is a research-based psychotherapy that helps the brain and nervous system process painful experiences so they no longer feel so raw or activating.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn’t require you to relive or analyze your trauma in detail. Instead, it works with the brain’s natural healing capacity to gently resolve what feels stuck.
What Does EMDR Stand For?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It was developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Francine Shapiro and is now widely recognized as an effective treatment for trauma and PTSD by organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization.
Despite the long name, EMDR is often experienced as surprisingly gentle and grounding.
How Does EMDR Therapy Work?
When we experience something overwhelming—especially trauma—the nervous system can get stuck in survival mode. Memories may remain unprocessed, showing up later as anxiety, emotional reactivity, body tension, or a feeling that the past is still happening in the present.
EMDR therapy uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or tones) to help the brain reprocess these experiences. This stimulation helps the nervous system move out of fight-or-flight and into a state where healing can occur.
Over time, memories that once felt intense or triggering begin to feel more distant, neutral, or resolved. Clients often say:
“It doesn’t have the same charge anymore.”
“I remember it, but it doesn’t overwhelm me.”
“I feel more like myself again.”
What Can EMDR Help With?
Many people associate EMDR with PTSD, but it can be helpful for a wide range of experiences, including:
Trauma and complex trauma
Anxiety and panic
Childhood emotional neglect
Narcissistic abuse recovery
Relationship trauma
Phobias
Grief and loss
Chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation
EMDR is especially powerful when symptoms feel body-based—when you “know” something logically, but your body still reacts.
What Makes EMDR Different from Talk Therapy?
Talk therapy can be incredibly valuable, but sometimes insight alone isn’t enough. You may understand why you feel the way you do and still feel stuck.
EMDR works bottom-up, meaning it engages the nervous system and the brain’s emotional centers, not just the thinking mind. This allows healing to happen at a deeper level—often with fewer words and less effort than people expect.
For many clients, EMDR feels like finally addressing the root of the issue rather than managing symptoms.
What Is an EMDR Session Like?
EMDR sessions are structured and paced carefully to support safety and regulation. A trained EMDR therapist will first help you build resources such as grounding, containment, and nervous system support before moving into reprocessing.
You are always in control. EMDR does not force memories or emotions—it follows your system’s readiness. Many people are surprised by how supported and resourced they feel throughout the process.
Is EMDR Right for You?
EMDR can be especially helpful if:
You feel emotionally reactive even when you “know better”
You’ve tried therapy before but still feel stuck
Your symptoms show up in your body (tension, shutdown, anxiety)
You’re healing from trauma, abuse, or chronic stress
Working with a trauma-informed EMDR therapist ensures the process is adapted to you, your history, and your nervous system.
Working With Me as an EMDR Therapist in Connecticut
As a Connecticut EMDR therapist, I provide trauma-informed EMDR therapy for individuals navigating trauma, chronic stress, anxiety, and nervous system dysregulation. My approach is grounded, relational, and carefully paced, with a strong emphasis on safety and stabilization before any trauma processing begins.
EMDR sessions with me are not about pushing or reliving experiences in detail, but about supporting the brain and nervous system in processing what feels stuck so it can settle naturally. I integrate EMDR with somatic awareness, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation to support lasting change.
If you are searching for an EMDR therapist in Connecticut who works with depth, attunement, and evidence-based care, EMDR therapy may be a supportive next step.
