Why EMDR? The Evidence Speaks for Itself

Trauma can rewire the brain, keeping distressing memories stored in a way that makes them feel immediate and overwhelming—long after the actual event has passed. EMDR has been extensively studied and is endorsed by the American Psychological Association, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the World Health Organization as an effective treatment for PTSD.

• A study found that 84-90% of single-event trauma survivors saw significant PTSD symptom reduction in just three EMDR sessions (Shapiro, 2018).

• Another study showed that 77% of combat veterans no longer met PTSD criteria after completing EMDR treatment (Carlson et al., 1998).

Unlike traditional talk therapy, which focuses on verbal processing, EMDR helps the brain reprocess trauma so it no longer holds the same emotional charge—allowing clients to regain a sense of control over their thoughts and reactions.

Can you allow yourself to grieve?

We often don’t realize that what we’re experiencing is grief; the package of thoughts, feelings, and sensations that are the natural response to loss. Our society mistakenly approves of grief only after the death of a loved one, and even then, society tells you to make your grief quiet, short, and tidy; nicely tied up in a bow after your four-day bereavement leave.

Yet, without recognizing and validating the losses other than death and the accompanying grief, we run the risk of languishing in a swamp of unsettling emotions that seem to have no cause or reason. That’s a recipe for deep depression and resignation; the very opposite of a rich, fulfilling, hope-filled life.

“When fragments of past trauma play out inside us, these fragments leave behind clues in the form of emotionally charged words and sentences that often lead us back to unresolved traumas” (Wolynn, 2016).  Patterns that, although developmentally adaptive for survival, often create problems in the present.