What Happens During an EMDR Session? What to Expect
If you have heard about EMDR therapy but have never experienced it, you may wonder what actually happens during a session.
Do you have to talk about everything that happened? Do you have to describe a traumatic experience in detail? What are the eye movements for? And what happens if you become overwhelmed?
These are all reasonable questions.
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a structured therapy approach. While every person's treatment is different, sessions generally involve preparation, identifying what you want to work on, processing, and checking in throughout the experience.
Before Processing Begins
EMDR does not usually begin with immediately focusing on the most difficult experience a person has had.
Your therapist first spends time getting to know you, understanding what brought you to therapy, and learning about your history and current concerns. You may also work together on strategies that can help you manage difficult emotions and feel more grounded.
This preparation gives you and your therapist an opportunity to build a foundation for the work.
Depending on your individual needs, preparation may take several sessions or may be incorporated throughout treatment.
Identifying What to Work On
Once you and your therapist are ready to begin processing, you will work together to identify a specific experience, memory, situation, or pattern that is connected to your current concerns.
Your therapist may ask about things such as:
What comes to mind when you think about the experience?
What emotions do you notice?
What physical sensations do you notice in your body?
What negative belief do you have about yourself?
What would you rather believe about yourself?
You do not have to provide every detail of an experience for EMDR to be useful.
The goal is to identify the pieces of the experience that are important for the therapeutic work.
What Are the Eye Movements?
One of the things people often associate with EMDR is the use of bilateral stimulation.
This can involve following a therapist's fingers with your eyes as they move from side to side. Depending on the therapist and the client's needs, other forms of bilateral stimulation may also be used, such as alternating sounds or tapping.
Your therapist will explain the process and help you find an approach that works for you.
The bilateral stimulation is incorporated while you focus on aspects of the experience being processed. You may notice memories, emotions, thoughts, images, or physical sensations changing as the session continues.
Do You Have to Talk About Everything?
No.
This is one of the most common concerns people have when they first hear about EMDR.
You may talk about parts of an experience, but EMDR does not require you to provide a detailed verbal account of everything that happened.
Your therapist guides the process while allowing you to notice what comes up internally.
You remain an active participant throughout the session, and you can communicate with your therapist about what you are experiencing.
What Might You Experience During a Session?
Everyone responds differently to EMDR.
You might notice memories becoming less vivid or emotionally intense. You might notice new thoughts or connections between experiences. You may become aware of physical sensations that you had not previously noticed.
Sometimes something that seems unrelated may come to mind. Your therapist can help you notice these experiences without needing to force them into a particular meaning.
EMDR is not about making yourself remember something perfectly or forcing yourself to feel a certain way.
The process is individualized, and your therapist helps you move through it at a pace that is appropriate for you.
What If I Become Overwhelmed?
Your therapist is there to monitor how you are doing throughout the session.
Part of EMDR preparation involves developing ways to manage distress and return to a sense of safety and stability when needed.
You can also communicate with your therapist during the process. If something feels too intense, that is important information for your therapist to know.
EMDR should not be about pushing yourself beyond what you can manage.
The pace and approach can be adjusted based on your needs.
What Happens at the End of the Session?
Your therapist will help you transition out of the processing portion of the session and check in about how you are feeling.
Depending on where you are in treatment, your therapist may use grounding or other strategies to help you feel settled before leaving.
You may also notice that your thoughts or feelings continue to shift between sessions. Some people experience additional memories, emotions, or insights after a session, while others notice little change outside of therapy.
Your therapist can help you understand what you are noticing and decide what to focus on next.
Every EMDR Session May Look a Little Different
There is no single way an EMDR session will look for every client.
One session may focus primarily on preparation. Another may involve processing a specific experience. At another point in treatment, you and your therapist may spend time addressing something that has come up between sessions.
Your treatment is based on your individual history, goals, needs, and response to therapy.
You also do not need to know exactly what you need to process before starting therapy.
That is something you and your therapist can explore together.
Considering EMDR?
If you are interested in EMDR but still have questions about what therapy might look like, talking with a therapist can be a helpful place to start.
At Lakeside Counseling, our therapists work with each client to understand their concerns and develop an approach that fits their individual needs. If EMDR may be appropriate for you, your therapist can explain the process, answer your questions, and help you understand what to expect.
If you are interested in exploring EMDR therapy, schedule an appointment with Lakeside Counseling.