Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy has emerged as a transformative approach for healing PTSD, offering a structured yet flexible framework to process distressing memories. Developed by Francine Shapiro, this evidence-based method uses bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements or taps—to help individuals reprocess traumatic experiences that have led to PTSD, reducing their emotional intensity. Below, we demystify the eight phases of EMDR therapy, providing clarity on how this innovative treatment fosters resilience and recovery.
Phase 1: Client History and Treatment Planning
The foundation of EMDR begins with a thorough assessment of the client’s history, including past traumas, current triggers, and future goals. Therapists evaluate the client’s emotional stability, readiness for processing, and safety factors to tailor a personalized treatment plan. This phase ensures that both therapist and client identify specific memories or situations to target, laying the groundwork for focused intervention.
Key Activities
Gathering detailed personal and trauma history.
Assessing internal and external resources for emotional regulation.
Collaboratively selecting target memories for reprocessing.
Phase 2: Preparation
Trust and safety are paramount. Therapists educate clients about EMDR’s mechanics, including bilateral stimulation, and teach coping strategies such as mindfulness or grounding techniques. This phase equips clients with tools to manage distress during and between sessions, fostering a sense of control and readiness.
Key Activities
Explaining the EMDR process and setting realistic expectations.
Practicing self-soothing techniques (e.g., deep breathing, visualization).
Establishing a “safe place” visualization to use if emotions become overwhelming.
Phase 3: Assessment
Here, clients pinpoint a specific memory to reprocess. They identify:
A vivid image representing the memory.
A negative self-belief (e.g., “I am powerless”).
A desired positive belief (e.g., “I am in control”).
Therapists measure the emotional intensity using the Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) scale (0–10) and the validity of the positive belief with the Validity of Cognition (VOC) scale (1–7).
Phase 4: Desensitization
Bilateral stimulation—via eye movements, taps, or tones—is introduced as clients focus on the traumatic memory. This phase aims to reduce the emotional charge linked to the memory, allowing new insights and associations to emerge. For example, a combat veteran might recall a traumatic event and gradually experience decreased distress as the memory is reprocessed.
Key Outcomes
SUD levels decrease to 0–1, indicating minimal distress.
Negative emotions and physical sensations dissipate.
Phase 5: Installation
The focus shifts to reinforcing the positive belief identified in Phase 3. Therapists use bilateral stimulation to strengthen the client’s acceptance of this belief until it feels “completely true” (VOC = 7). For instance, a survivor of assault might replace “I am weak” with “I am resilient”.
Phase 6: Body Scan
Clients mentally scan their body for residual tension or sensations linked to the memory. Any lingering discomfort is addressed with additional bilateral stimulation, ensuring somatic and emotional resolution.
Phase 7: Closure
Sessions conclude with techniques to restore emotional equilibrium, such as guided imagery or journaling. Clients are reminded to use coping skills if distress arises between sessions.
Phase 8: Reevaluation
At the start of each new session, therapists assess progress by revisiting previously processed targets. This phase ensures sustained improvement and identifies new areas for focus, maintaining the therapy’s momentum.
Why EMDR Works: The Science Behind the Phases
EMDR’s effectiveness lies in its ability to mimic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, where the brain naturally processes memories. Bilateral stimulation “unsticks” traumatic memories stored in the right hemisphere, allowing integration with the left hemisphere’s logical and positive frameworks. This dual attention stimulus—focusing on the past while engaging in the present—reduces the vividness and emotional grip of traumatic memories.
Conclusion: The Eight Phases of EMDR Therapy
EMDR therapy’s eight-phase approach offers a roadmap for healing, blending structure with adaptability to meet each client’s needs. By systematically addressing past traumas, present triggers, and future challenges, EMDR empowers individuals to reclaim their narrative and cultivate lasting resilience.
References
EMDR Therapy Australia. (n.d.). The phases of EMDR therapy. https://emdrtherapy.com.au/phases-of-emdr-therapy/
Hornsveld, P. (2019). A brief description of the 8 phases of EMDR therapy [PDF]. https://hornsveldpsychologenpraktijk.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/full-8-phase-explanation.pdf
EMDR Institute. (2024). What is EMDR? https://www.emdr.com/what-is-emdr/
Trauma Therapist Institute. (2025). Understanding the 8 phases of EMDR therapy. https://www.traumatherapistinstitute.com/blog/Understanding-the-8-Phases-of-EMDR-Therapy
The Wave Clinic. (n.d.). How does EMDR therapy work? https://thewaveclinic.com/blog/how-does-emdr-therapy-work/
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Exploring the 8 phases of EMDR. https://www.apa.org/topics/psychotherapy/emdr-phases
Cleveland Clinic. (2024). EMDR therapy: What it is, procedure & effectiveness. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22641-emdr-therapy
EMDR International Association. (2024). The eight phases of EMDR therapy. https://www.emdria.org/blog/the-eight-phases-of-emdr-therapy/
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