Understanding EMDR: How It Works and Who It Helps
Hannah Dunsmore
EMDR & Trauma Director
An Introduction to a Trauma-Focused Therapy That Goes Beyond Talk.
When we talk with clients about trauma therapy, EMDR often comes up, and just as often, it comes with questions.
What exactly is EMDR? Does it really work? Will I have to relive everything? Is it only for people with “big” trauma?
These are smart questions. Trauma shows up differently for everyone, and therapy shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all. EMDR is a powerful tool, but like any approach, it helps to understand what it is, how it works, and who it’s for. Let’s walk through it.
What Is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a type of therapy developed in the late 1980s by Dr. Francine Shapiro, originally to help people struggling with post-traumatic stress.
At its core, EMDR helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer feel so triggering or emotionally charged. It doesn’t erase the memory — but it can change the way the memory lives in your body and mind.
You don’t have to go into detail or talk through your trauma at length. EMDR works by using a structured process and bilateral stimulation (more on that below) to help your brain do what it naturally wants to do: heal.
How Does It Work?
EMDR is built on the idea that our brains are wired to process and store memories in healthy ways. But when something overwhelming or traumatic happens — whether it’s a car accident, emotional abuse, medical trauma, or years of chronic stress — those memories can get “stuck.” You might feel as if you’re reliving something over and over, even years later.
EMDR helps “unstick” those memories using a process called bilateral stimulation — often eye movements, tapping, or tones that alternate back and forth. This activates both sides of the brain and seems to help the nervous system complete the processing it couldn’t do at the time of the trauma.
During EMDR, your therapist will guide you through:
Identifying the memory or experience that’s causing distress
Naming the beliefs, emotions, and body sensations tied to it
Engaging in bilateral stimulation while holding that memory
Allowing the brain to shift, soften, and reprocess the experience
It’s more structured than traditional talk therapy, but it’s also collaborative, flexible, and paced according to what feels safe for you.
Who Is EMDR For?
You don’t need a PTSD diagnosis to benefit from EMDR. In fact, many people come to EMDR with experiences that don’t always get labeled as “trauma,” but still affect their daily lives. EMDR can be helpful for:
Survivors of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
People who’ve experienced medical trauma or accidents
First responders and healthcare workers
Adults who grew up in high-conflict or emotionally neglectful households
Individuals struggling with anxiety, panic, or phobias
Clients who feel “stuck” in talk therapy but want deeper change
Anyone carrying painful memories that still feel sharp, confusing, or charged
Some clients do EMDR alongside ongoing talk therapy. Others use it as a focused, time-limited treatment for a specific issue. Either way, it can be a powerful tool for healing — especially when trauma lives in the body, not just in the story.
What EMDR Is Not
It’s not hypnosis. You stay fully present and in control the entire time.
It’s not retraumatizing. Your therapist will never push you beyond what feels tolerable.
It’s not only for combat veterans or “big T” trauma. EMDR supports a wide range of human experiences.
We also want to be clear that EMDR isn’t the right fit for everyone. Some clients benefit more from somatic work, narrative therapy, or other trauma-informed approaches. That’s why we take the time to learn your story and help you find the path that makes sense for you.
What EMDR Can Help You Reclaim
When EMDR works well — and for many clients, it does — the results can be profound. Nightmares fade. Triggers soften. Shame loosens its grip. Old patterns lose their power. You might notice:
A memory that once felt overwhelming now feels neutral
Your body is less reactive to familiar stressors
You’re more able to stay present, grounded, and connected
Self-compassion starts to replace self-blame
That’s the heart of EMDR: not forgetting the past, but integrating it in a way that allows you to move forward.
Curious About EMDR?
If you’re interested in EMDR or wondering whether it could help with what you’re carrying, we’d love to connect. At Nashville Therapy Group, several of our trauma-trained therapists offer EMDR as part of our broader, integrative approach to healing.
You don’t have to keep living in survival mode. You don’t have to untangle it all by yourself.
There’s a way through, and we’re here to walk it with you.
Our EMDR Specialists
We Are Here For You
At Nashville Therapy Group, our team of clinicians is here to help you work through what’s hard and move toward meaningful change. Connect with us today to get started. We’d be honored to help you heal.
