A Closer Look at EMDR and How It Works in the Brain

If you've ever experienced trauma or deeply distressing memories, you may have heard of EMDR therapy, short for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.

It's become one of the most well-known and evidence-based therapies for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and even phobias. At first glance, EMDR can sound a little unusual: following a therapist's finger or a set of moving lights while recalling painful memories. But beneath that simple process lies a sophisticated and powerful neurological mechanism, one that helps the brain heal itself from trauma.

Understanding What EMDR Does

EMDR was developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in the 1980s after she discovered that specific eye movements seemed to lessen the emotional intensity of disturbing thoughts. Over time, her observation evolved into a structured, research-backed form of therapy now used worldwide.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR doesn't focus on analyzing or rehashing painful experiences in detail. Instead, it helps the brain reprocess those memories. It moves them from a raw, distressing state into a more integrated and adaptive one. In simple terms, EMDR helps the brain finish what trauma interrupted.

How Trauma Gets Stuck in the Brain

To understand how EMDR works, it helps to first understand what trauma does to the brain. When a traumatic event occurs, the amygdala goes into overdrive, signaling danger. The hippocampus, which organizes memories and puts them into context, often shuts down under extreme stress.

As a result, the memory doesn't go through processing properly. It remains stuck in the brain in its raw form, complete with the original sights, sounds, body sensations, and emotions. That's why trauma can feel like it's happening all over again, even years later. Your brain can't tell the difference between then and now because that memory never made it through the normal processing pathway.

The Healing Process During EMDR

During EMDR therapy, you'll recall a distressing memory while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation. This activates both sides of the brain alternately through eye movements, tapping, or sound tones that move from left to right.

By focusing on both the memory and the bilateral movement, your brain anchors itself in the present while revisiting the past. This prevents overwhelm and allows for safe reprocessing. The traumatic memory is accessed in a controlled way, activating the neural networks where it's stored.

The rhythmic left-right stimulation helps the brain form new connections, linking the traumatic memory to healthier, more adaptive information. Over time, the memory loses its emotional charge. The event doesn't disappear, but it stops triggering the same level of fear, shame, or distress. You can remember it without reliving it.

What the Research Shows

Researchers believe EMDR mimics a natural process that happens during REM sleep, when our eyes move back and forth as the brain sorts and stores emotional experiences. During EMDR, brain imaging studies have shown decreased activity in the amygdala and increased communication between the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, areas responsible for memory integration and emotional regulation. Essentially, EMDR helps the brain unstick frozen memories and refile them properly. They become part of your story, not the thing that controls it.

Who Can Benefit from EMDR

Because it works with how you store memories in the brain, EMDR therapy can be particularly effective for experiences that still live in the body even when you logically know they're in the past. One of the most empowering things about EMDR is that it reminds us how capable the brain is of healing. Trauma may have disrupted your sense of safety and control. But the same brain that was overwhelmed then has the power to reorganize and recover now.

If you're ready to explore how EMDR can help you move forward from trauma or distressing memories, I'd love to support you in that process. Reach out to Ubuntu Psychological Services today to schedule a consultation and begin your healing journey.

‍