How EMDR Therapy Works
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It has since become one of the most extensively validated treatments for trauma and PTSD, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychological Association, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR does not require you to describe your trauma in detail or spend months analyzing how and why it happened. Instead, it uses bilateral stimulation — typically guided eye movements, alternating tapping, or auditory tones — to activate both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously. This process closely mirrors what the brain does naturally during REM sleep, when memories are consolidated and emotional charge is reduced.
When a traumatic or highly distressing memory gets “stuck,” it is stored in isolation — frozen in time with the emotions, sensations, and beliefs you had when the event occurred. EMDR helps your brain resume its natural processing so the memory can integrate into your broader life experience without continuing to hijack your nervous system.
After successful EMDR, clients often describe the same memory as feeling distant, neutral, or simply factual — something that happened, but no longer something that is happening. The event does not disappear; you just no longer live inside it.
What EMDR Can Treat
EMDR is best known as a gold-standard treatment for PTSD and acute trauma, but its applications are much broader. Research supports its effectiveness across a wide range of mental health concerns:
PTSD & complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
Anxiety disorders
Panic attacks
Phobias
Depression
Grief & loss
Childhood trauma
Emotional neglect
Attachment wounds
Relational trauma
Sexual assault & abuse
Performance anxiety
Negative self-beliefs
Somatic symptoms
The Process
The 8 Phases of EMDR
EMDR follows a structured eight-phase protocol. Every phase has a purpose, and we move through them at the pace that is right for you.
- 1
History & Treatment Planning
Understanding your history, trauma, and goals for therapy.
- 2
Preparation
Building a therapeutic relationship and learning stabilization skills before processing begins.
- 3
Assessment
Identifying the specific memory, image, belief, and body sensation to target.
- 4
Desensitization
Using bilateral stimulation to reduce the emotional charge of the target memory.
- 5
Installation
Strengthening a positive belief to replace the old, negative one.
- 6
Body Scan
Checking for any remaining somatic distress and clearing residual tension.
- 7
Closure
Returning to equilibrium at the end of every session, whether processing is complete or not.
- 8
Reevaluation
Reviewing progress at the start of subsequent sessions and identifying what to address next.
Big T and Little t Trauma: Both Are Valid
One of the most common barriers to seeking trauma therapy is the belief that what you experienced was not “bad enough” to count as trauma. This is a myth. Trauma is defined not by the event itself, but by how it has impacted you. EMDR is equally effective for both categories of traumatic experience.
BIG T TRAUMA
Acute & Catastrophic Events
- Sexual assault or abuse
- Physical violence or abuse
- Childhood neglect
- War or combat
- Serious accidents
- Natural disasters
- Life-threatening illness
- Witnessing violence
LITTLE t TRAUMA
Relational & Developmental Wounds
- Chronic criticism or contempt
- Emotional neglect or dismissal
- Unstable or anxious attachment
- Infidelity or betrayal
- Difficult divorce
- Financial or occupational stress
- Relational conflicts
- Bullying or social rejection
EMDR Therapy Intensives in NJ
Standard weekly EMDR sessions are effective for many clients, but some people prefer — or benefit more from — a more concentrated format. EMDR Intensives condense treatment into 2–4 consecutive days of extended sessions (typically 3–6 hours per day), allowing for deeper processing with less disruption to weekly continuity.
Intensives are especially well-suited for clients who have already done some trauma work, those with limited availability for ongoing weekly appointments, or those who want to make significant progress on a specific trauma cluster in a shorter window of time. They are available both in-person in Glen Ridge, NJ and via telehealth.
EMDR Therapy in Glen Ridge & Essex County, NJ
My practice is located in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, in the heart of Essex County. I work with adults from Glen Ridge and the surrounding communities — including Montclair, Bloomfield, Verona, Nutley, Belleville, and the broader northern New Jersey area — as well as clients throughout New York and Pennsylvania via secure telehealth.
Whether you are local and prefer in-person sessions or need the flexibility of online therapy, EMDR is available in a format that works for your life. Online EMDR is equally effective for most clients and uses the same bilateral stimulation techniques adapted for a virtual setting.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) trained in EMDR, I integrate this approach alongside heart-centered hypnotherapy and parts work / inner child healing when clinically appropriate — creating a personalized, depth-oriented approach to trauma that goes beyond symptom management.
Common Questions About EMDR
Yes — and in my practice, it often is. I frequently integrate EMDR with heart-centered hypnotherapy and parts work / inner child healing for a more comprehensive approach to trauma that addresses the mind, body, and underlying belief systems simultaneously. For clients interested in a deeper dive, EMDR and hypnotherapy intensives are also available.
EMDR is a well-researched, safe therapy when conducted by a trained clinician. It is normal to experience some emotional intensity during or after processing sessions as material surfaces. Preparation phases are built into the protocol specifically to ensure you have stabilization skills before any processing begins, and every session ends with closure to return you to a regulated state.
Yes. I offer EMDR via telehealth to clients throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Online EMDR is effective for most clients and uses adapted bilateral stimulation techniques designed for a virtual setting. Sessions are conducted via a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform.
The number of sessions varies by person and presentation. A single-incident trauma may resolve in 6–12 sessions. Complex or developmental trauma — accumulated over years — typically requires more extensive work. We will discuss a realistic treatment timeline during our initial consultation, and you can always ask about intensive formats if you prefer a more condensed approach.
No. One of the significant advantages of EMDR is that you do not need to verbally narrate or describe your trauma in detail. You hold the memory in mind while bilateral stimulation is applied; your brain does the reprocessing. This makes EMDR particularly valuable for clients who find verbal re-telling re-traumatizing or who struggle to put their experience into words.
Traditional talk therapy works primarily through insight and language — you talk about what happened, explore its meaning, and work toward understanding. EMDR works at a neurological level. Bilateral stimulation activates both brain hemispheres simultaneously and mimics the memory consolidation process that occurs naturally during REM sleep. Many clients notice meaningful shifts in fewer sessions than they expected, including clients who have been in talk therapy for years without fully resolving their trauma.
