EMDR Therapy for Trauma Recovery: Everything You Need to Know

How EMDR Therapy Can Help Heal from Trauma?

Trauma can affect us in many ways—whether it’s from a single event, ongoing stress, or unresolved emotional wounds. Healing from trauma can feel overwhelming, but there are powerful tools that can help. One of these tools is Eye Movement

Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. If you’re new to EMDR, this guide will walk you through what it is, how it works, and how it can help you or your loved ones heal from trauma.

What is EMDR Therapy?

EMDR therapy is a highly effective, evidence-based therapeutic approach that helps people process and heal from distressing memories. It was originally developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s to help individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but over time, its applications have expanded to include a wide range of emotional challenges.

EMDR works by helping the brain reprocess traumatic memories in a way that reduces their emotional charge and allows the individual to integrate the experience more healthily. It’s distinct from other forms of therapy because it incorporates bilateral stimulation (BLS)—often through guided eye movements, taps, or sounds—while the client recalls the traumatic memory.

How Does EMDR Work?

The key to EMDR is the concept of bilateral stimulation. During a session, your therapist will guide you to recall a specific distressing memory or thought. While you do this, you will engage in eye movements (or other forms of BLS) which are believed to mimic the natural process of eye movement during REM sleep. This helps the brain process the traumatic memory and move it from a “stuck” state to a more adaptive, less emotionally charged state.

EMDR works in phases:

History-taking and preparation: Your therapist will get to know your background, the nature of the trauma you’ve experienced, and your goals for therapy.
Identification of target memories: Together, you’ll identify the memories or situations you’d like to process.
Desensitization: This phase involves reprocessing the memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation, which helps decrease the distress related to the memory.
Installation: The goal is to replace negative beliefs with more positive, adaptive ones.
Body scan: After processing the memory, the therapist checks if there’s any physical tension left in your body, which could indicate unresolved emotional material.
Closure: You’ll reflect on the work done during the session and return to a state of calm and groundedness.
Reevaluation: In future sessions, the therapist checks to ensure the memory no longer causes distress and that new insights have been integrated.

Types of Trauma EMDR Can Help Heal

EMDR has been found to be effective in treating a wide variety of trauma-related conditions, including:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Whether it’s from military combat, sexual assault, or a natural disaster, EMDR can help individuals process memories and reduce the emotional charge attached to them.
Complex Trauma: Chronic trauma or abuse that happens over time, such as childhood neglect or emotional abuse, can be treated effectively with EMDR.
Anxiety and Panic Attacks: Many people with anxiety have experienced trauma, whether they’re aware of it or not. EMDR helps process these hidden memories that contribute to anxiety symptoms.
Phobias: Whether it’s a fear of flying, heights, or social situations, EMDR can help clear the root causes of these fears.
Grief and Loss: EMDR can also help individuals process grief, especially if unresolved traumatic memories are contributing to feelings of sadness or despair.
Addiction: Often, addiction is a coping mechanism for past trauma. EMDR can help address the underlying trauma, which can lead to a reduction in addictive behaviors.

Statistics on the Effectiveness of EMDR

Success Rate for PTSD: Research shows that 77-100% of individuals with PTSD who receive EMDR therapy experience a reduction in symptoms. Studies indicate that 84-90% of PTSD patients have significantly reduced symptoms after 3-6 months of EMDR treatment (Shapiro, 2014).
Rapid Healing: EMDR is known for its efficiency. A study published in the Journal of EMDR Practice and Research found that EMDR significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in just 3-12 sessions—a much shorter time frame compared to other therapeutic approaches.
Effectiveness Across Populations: EMDR has been shown to be effective for various populations, including children, veterans, and survivors of sexual assault. In fact, a study found that 80-90% of people with PTSD saw improvement after EMDR therapy, regardless of age or the nature of their trauma (Van der Kolk, 2014).
Long-Term Benefits: EMDR doesn’t just provide temporary relief; it leads to long-lasting changes. Studies show that clients who undergo EMDR report greater improvements in overall well-being and emotional regulation even years after completing therapy (Carlson et al., 1998).
Reduced Distress in Anxiety and Depression: In addition to PTSD, EMDR has also been shown to be effective for anxiety and depression. One study found that 40-60% of patients with anxiety and depression saw symptom reduction after a series of EMDR sessions (Lee & Cuijpers, 2013).

Why Choose EMDR Therapy?

What sets EMDR apart from other trauma therapies is its focus on reprocessing traumatic memories without requiring the client to relive them in detail. It’s a gentle but powerful approach that’s often faster than traditional talk therapy. While each person’s experience is different, many individuals find that EMDR helps them heal from trauma in ways that feel more transformative and lasting.

Final Thoughts

If you’re struggling with the effects of trauma, whether it’s PTSD, complex trauma, or any other emotional challenge, EMDR therapy may offer you the support you need to heal. With its unique, scientifically-backed approach, EMDR helps you process difficult memories, reduce emotional pain, and restore your mental and physical well-being.

Are you curious about how EMDR can help you or a loved one? Reach out to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward healing.

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Being Safe vs Feeling Safe: A Nervous System Guide (with horses)

By Lexie Glisson • January 31, 2026

Why You Can Be Safe but Not Feel Safe: And What Horses Mirror Safety isn’t just a thought. It’s a nervous system experience. There’s a big difference between being safe and feeling safe : Being safe means there’s no present-moment threat. Feeling safe means your nervous system agrees. If you’ve ever been in a totally normal moment, nothing dangerous is actually happening, but your body is acting like something is wrong, you’re not alone. You might notice a tight chest, foggy thinking, an urge to escape, or a sudden numbness. That’s often a conditioned response : an inner state that doesn’t match your outer reality. This is where a tool called dual awareness can help. What is dual awareness? A nervous system tool for feeling safe Dual awareness is when you place equal attention on your outer world and your inner world . It helps you check for congruence between: what’s actually happening right now, and what your nervous system is experiencing. When your inner experience matches your outer circumstances, you’re more likely to respond with choice and clarity. Step 1: How to check for safety in your environment Before we do anything internal, we start with the obvious question: Am I actually unsafe right now? If there’s a real present-moment threat, that’s not the time to talk yourself out of it. Your nervous system is doing its job. If you’re physically safe, here are a few gentle ways to orient to the present moment: What do I see right now? Where are my feet? What sounds do I hear? Step 2: How to check your breathing, body, and thoughts Next, shift your awareness inward and notice what’s happening without forcing it to change. Breath: fast, slow, shallow, deep Body: tense, relaxed, strained Thoughts: scattered, racing, absent, foggy, sharp, hyper-alert Then try naming your experience in a way that creates a little space: “A part of me feels scared.” “A part of me wants to leave.” Instead of: “I’m not safe.” This small shift can help you stay connected to what’s happening inside without becoming consumed by it. Step 3: How to tell if you are safe but not feeling safe Now that you’ve tuned into both your outer world and inner world, ask: Does my internal experience match my external circumstances? Being safe + feeling safe is a congruent state. Being safe + feeling unsafe is an incongruent state. Incongruence doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It often means your nervous system is responding from old learning rather than present-moment reality. What horses mirror in equine-assisted therapy: congruence and nervous system state When working with horses, they can support this process by mirroring congruence or incoherence in real time. Horses are especially sensitive to authenticity. They don’t care if you’re sad, mad, bad, or glad. What matters most is whether your inner state is congruent with your outward expression. As you attempt to connect, you may notice patterns in how horses respond. Signs a horse may sense calm and congruence Turn toward you with soft eyes and gentle curiosity Eat or drink water (often a sign of rest and digest) Hold their head in a neutral or lowered position; ears forward or neutral Stand with a leg cocked or lie down to rest Signs a horse may sense stress, activation, or incongruence Become restless, busy, or more alert Lift their head or pin their ears back Break connection and move away Test boundaries by crowding your space or bumping you These are only a few examples, and it’s always more complex than one behavior. It’s about the whole scene: the context, the relationship, and the overall vibe. That’s also why it’s important to do this work with an experienced equine professional. In session, I use my own dual awareness to track what’s happening and help you and the horses move toward deeper congruence. How you rewire the nervous system: repetition and returning to the present Dual awareness helps you stay connected to yourself and your environment in the present moment without getting swallowed by a conditioned response based on the past. Every time you notice you’re elevated and you come back to reality, you’re reprogramming your nervous system. Every time you catch an old story and choose to reorient to the present moment, you’re reprogramming your nervous system. Every time you become aware that your body is reliving an old experience that doesn’t match what is actually happening right now, you’re building a new bridge. You’re learning to respond to the world as the mature adult you are, instead of like the younger part of you that didn’t know what to do. Therapy support in Boulder and Denver: equine-assisted therapy, EMDR, and nervous system work If you’ve been wondering why you can know you’re safe but not feel safe, you’re not alone, and it’s workable. Dual awareness is one of the ways we start building that bridge. Want support with this work, with or without horses? Reach out to schedule a consultation and we’ll explore what kind of therapy support fits best.