EMDR Therapy
How EMDR Therapy Works
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured, evidence-based therapy designed to help people heal from trauma and distressing life experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn't require you to describe a difficult memory in detail or rely solely on verbal processing.
EMDR follows an eight-phase approach:
History & Treatment Planning — We gather background information and identify specific memories or experiences to target.
Preparation — You'll learn coping tools and what to expect, and build a foundation of trust and safety.
Assessment — The target memory is identified along with the negative belief, emotion, and body sensation connected to it.
Desensitization — Using bilateral stimulation (eye movement, audio tones, or tapping), the memory is reprocessed while the distress attached to it decreases.
Installation — A positive, more adaptive belief is strengthened in place of the old negative one.
Body Scan — Any remaining physical tension connected to the memory is identified and addressed.
Closure — Each session ends with grounding techniques to ensure you leave feeling stable and regulated.
Reevaluation — Progress is reviewed at the start of subsequent sessions to guide next steps.
The theory behind EMDR is that trauma can get "stuck" in the brain's memory network in a raw, unprocessed form. Bilateral stimulation appears to help the brain reprocess these memories so they become less distressing and more integrated — similar to how memories are naturally processed during REM sleep.
EMDR is best known for treating PTSD, but it's also used for anxiety, depression, grief, and other forms of emotional distress.
Remote EMDR: Does It Work?
Yes. Research since the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that EMDR delivered securely online can be just as effective as in-person sessions.
A 2023 systematic review of 16 studies (1,231 participants) found remote EMDR produced meaningful reductions in PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and depression.
Studies published between 2021–2023 consistently found that remote EMDR produces symptom reduction comparable to in-person delivery, using standardized clinical measures.
A UK evaluation of 93 patients found statistically significant, clinically meaningful improvement in both adults and children/young people — regardless of the therapist's level of experience.
The therapeutic relationship — often considered essential to trauma treatment — remains just as strong in remote sessions when sessions are well-prepared and technology runs smoothly.
Remote EMDR also makes care more accessible for clients who have scheduling constraints, live farther away, or simply prefer the comfort and privacy of their own space.
Research Citations
Fisher, J. et al. (2021). Using EMDR Therapy to Treat Clients Remotely. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research. https://doi.org/10.1891/EMDR-D-20-00041
Farrell, D. et al. (2021). An evaluation of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy delivered remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic. BMC Psychiatry, 21, 645. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03571-x
Systematic review (2023). Addressing mental health need after COVID-19: a systematic review of remote EMDR therapy studies as an emerging option. Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1336569
Bongaerts, H., Voorendonk, E. M., van Minnen, A., & de Jongh, A. (2020). CovEMERALD study protocol. BMC Trials, 21, 929. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-04805-1
Long-COVID remote EMDR study (2024). PMC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11674612/