Explaining EMDR to Clients: Healing the Roots

Healing the Roots: How EMDR Therapy Can Help

The good news is that the roots don’t have to stay tangled forever. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is designed to help untangle those old experiences. Think of it like pressing "pause" on that background song and helping your brain process the memory in a safe, structured, controlled way.

One of my clients described it as a gentler, kinder method for facing the darkness of the past — with the support of the therapist’s knowledge of trauma, being able to ‘hold space’ for their experience and reactions, and the EMDR protocol to provide the structure.

Here’s how it works:

• By revisiting those stuck memories, you can help your brain “unstick” them. It’s not about reliving the pain but about allowing your brain to process and heal the memory.

• Using bilateral movements (e.g., eye’s moving or tapping on legs side to side; left brain - right brain . . . left brain - right brain) at the same time you bring up the memory, unlocks the stuck thoughts, emotions, and body sensations — like different channels or branches of association to the memory — that link the past to the present.

• As you heal those roots, you might notice changes ripple through your thoughts, feelings, and even physical sensations. Current triggers will feel less intense because the foundation they were tied to has been resolved.

Growing a Stronger Tree: Building Your Present and Future

Once the past feels less heavy, you’ll have more room to focus on the present and the future. EMDR therapy can also help you envision how you want to respond to challenges moving forward. You’ll build confidence and tools for navigating life with greater ease and emotional balance.