What does EMDR therapy look like? This short video for clients explains the 8 Phases of EMDR Therapy and what they might experience in EMDR therapy sessions.

EMDR therapists are encouraged to share this video with clients seeking information about trauma-informed psychotherapy.

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Video Transcript

0:00:04

EMDR

• Extensively researched and evidence-based
• Effective psychotherapy
• Helps people recover form trauma and other distressing life experiences (without talking at length)
• Eight Phases (over the course of a number of sessions

*should always be administered by a professional who is fully trained in EMDR therapy

0:00:30

Phase 1 History Taking & Treatment Planning

0:00:37

1. History Taking & Treatment Planning Phase

• The therapist develops a treatment plan according to your needs and situation.
• Your therapist will help you identify important aspects of your life story.
• You will discover the connection between your current problems and your past.
• You will identify your strengths & resources.
• Your personal and cultural context are important.

0:01:02

Phase 2: Preparation

0:01:07

2. Preparation Phase

Your therapist will explain EMDR, clarify expectations & test out eye movements (tapping or tones) and:

• Build a working relationship with you.
• Address your concerns.
• Help you develop tools to continue with the next phases of EMDR.
• Address your readiness for the next phases.

0:01:30

Phase 3: Assessment

0:01:34

3. Assessment Phase

Your therapist and you agree to work on a memory of a disturbing event and briefly talk about it.

Your therapist asks questions about the event including:

• Images
• Thoughts
• Feelings
• Body sensations

0:01:50

Phase 4: Desensitization

0:01:54

4. Desensitization Phase

• You think about the event AND follow movements with your eyes (or use tapping or tones).
• Reprocessing begins (working on disturbing memory).
• You notice what happens in your thoughts, feelings and body sensations without judging or trying to change…and Go with that for each set.

Note: you and your therapist are usually silent during sets.

0:02:20

4. Desensitization Phase

Your therapist will stop eye movements periodically and say: “Take a breath and tell me what you notice now?”

You will briefly report what you notice.

The therapist says: “Go with that.”

You continue to notice any changes in thoughts, feelings, images, and body sensations WHILE continuing eye movements (or tapping or tones) until distress is reduced or eliminated.

0:02:47

Phase 5: Installation

0:02:52

5. Installation Phase

You will link the event with an adaptive positive belief such as: “I did the best I could,” or “I am safe now” WHILE continuing eye movements (or tapping or tones).

0:03:04

Phase 6: Body Scan

0:03:09

Body Scan Phase

You think about the original event AND a positive belief while scanning your body.

Lingering tension or unusual sensations are identified and reprocessed with more eye movements (tapping or tones).

0:03:31

Phase 7: Closure

0:03:36

7. Closure Phase

• Your therapist helps you shift attention away from the event.
• Your therapist helps you to return to a calm state and strategies for containment are discussed.
• Your therapist talks to you about what to expect between sessions.

0:03:55

Phase 8: Re-evaluation

0:04:01

8. Re-evaluation Phase

• In the next session, you will review with your therapist what happened after your last session.
• Identify overall changes in your symptoms ore situation.
• Identify changes to the memory of the event: “What comes up now when you think about the event?”
• Continue with same event (if needed) or move to next disturbing memory.

0:04:25

To Find an EMDR Therapist

Just click here.