If you’ve come across the term EMDR before, there’s a good chance your first reaction was: wait, what?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a mouthful. And once you get past the name, the concept raises its own questions: how does moving your eyes in a specific pattern help heal trauma?

It sounds a little out there, but EMDR is one of the most researched, evidence-backed treatments we have for trauma and PTSD.

To break down what it actually is, how it works, and who it’s for, we asked Jamie Sullivan, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Lavender. Here’s what you need to know about EMDR therapy.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

When most people hear the word “trauma,” they picture something dramatic: a single, obvious, life-altering event. In reality, trauma is often quieter and more common than that. Most of us carry some kind of difficult or painful experience, even if we’d never think to label it “trauma.”

The good news is that trauma can be healed, and EMDR is one of the most effective ways to do it.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. At its core, the therapy works to make traumatic memories feel less distressing over time, while also helping to reshape the negative beliefs people often form about themselves because of those events.

In a traditional EMDR session, you move your eyes from side to side while recalling a traumatic experience. That side-to-side movement engages both sides of the brain, and helps reduce the emotional charge of the memory and making it easier to process (1,2).

What Does EMDR Treat?

EMDR was originally developed to treat PTSD. Its creator, Francine Shapiro, first studied it with Vietnam veterans and survivors of assault, and found it significantly reduced the distress tied to their traumatic memories. Since then, research has shown EMDR can also be effective for phobias, panic disorders, anxiety, depression, addiction, and chronic pain, among other conditions (2).

For people who’ve tried traditional talk therapy before, EMDR can feel different, and for many, that’s part of the appeal. You don’t need to talk through your trauma in detail for it to work. It’s also been shown to produce results faster than talk therapy in some cases, since it targets the memory more directly at the source (2).

Is EMDR Effective? What the Evidence Says

EMDR can feel unusual at first, especially if you’re used to traditional talk therapy. But there’s a strong body of research behind it. The World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association both recommend EMDR as a first option for treating PTSD. It also has good supporting evidence for anxiety disorders, depression, addiction, eating disorders, OCD, personality disorders, and various other forms of trauma (5).

If you want to dig into the research yourself, the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) is a great place to start. They maintain solid, accessible resources on the therapy and its evidence base (1).

Your EMDR Questions, Answered

So, is EMDR Therapy for you?

EMDR is one of the most well-researched treatments available for trauma and PTSD, and for many people, it can be a powerful way to process difficult experiences without having to relive every detail.

The right trauma treatment looks different for everyone. While EMDR can be highly effective, it’s one of several approaches that may help depending on your symptoms, history, and goals. If you’re considering treatment for trauma, anxiety, or PTSD, our Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners are here to help you understand your options and build a care plan that’s tailored to your needs. We have a limited number of clinicians who offer EMDR, but we can always point you in the right direction for the care you need. You can reach out to our team or fill out our intake form to book an appointment.

If you’re carrying the weight of a traumatic experience, know that things can get better. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting what happened, it means it no longer controls your day-to-day life.

References

1. EMDR International Association — emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy
2. American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/eye-movement-reprocessing
3. Shapiro, F. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, 3rd edition.
4. Hoppen TH, Wessarges L, Jehn M, et al. “Psychological Interventions for Pediatric Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.” JAMA Psychiatry. 2025;82(2):130–141.
5. de Jongh A, de Roos C, El-Leithy S. “State of the science: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.” J Trauma Stress. 2024 Apr;37(2):205-216.
6. Sutton, A., Carroll, C., Simpson, E., et al. “Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness of Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy. 2025;32(6):e70186.