As a trauma therapist trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), I’ve had the privilege of helping individuals heal from some of the most overwhelming and painful experiences in their lives. Trauma leaves a profound impact, often shaping the way people perceive the world, relate to others, and even experience themselves. The good news is that trauma doesn't have to define you, and through therapies like EMDR, there is a way to find relief, process the pain, and move forward into a healthier and more empowered life.
In this blog post, I want to share what I’ve learned about reducing traumatic stress using EMDR, how it works, and why it’s an effective tool in trauma recovery.
What is Traumatic Stress?
Traumatic stress occurs when an individual experiences an event—or a series of events—that overwhelms their ability to cope. This could be a one-time event like a car accident or assault, or prolonged experiences such as childhood neglect or abuse. Trauma imprints itself not only in our memory but also in our body and nervous system, leading to symptoms like:
Flashbacks and nightmares
Anxiety and hypervigilance
Emotional numbness or detachment
Difficulty concentrating or regulating emotions
Physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or gastrointestinal issues
These reactions are not just "in your head." Trauma affects the brain’s ability to process and store information properly. The memories associated with traumatic events often remain "stuck," causing the person to re-experience them as though they are happening in the present. This is where EMDR comes in.
How EMDR Reduces Traumatic Stress
EMDR is an integrative therapy that helps individuals process distressing memories by using bilateral stimulation, most commonly through guided eye movements. During an EMDR session, I help clients recall specific traumatic memories in a safe and controlled way. While the client focuses on the memory, I guide them in making eye movements (or using other forms of bilateral stimulation, like tapping or auditory tones). This process allows the brain to reprocess the memory, essentially digesting it in a way that reduces its emotional intensity and distress.
Here’s a breakdown of how EMDR works in practice and why it’s effective for reducing traumatic stress:
1. Unfreezing Stuck Memories
Traumatic memories are often stored in a fragmented way in the brain, making them difficult to process. When you recall these memories, they might feel as raw and overwhelming as when the event originally occurred. EMDR helps to "unfreeze" these memories by connecting them with healthier, more adaptive thoughts and feelings. This allows the brain to integrate the traumatic experience into a person’s broader life narrative in a more manageable way.
2. Changing the Emotional Charge
One of the most profound effects of EMDR is its ability to reduce the emotional charge of traumatic memories. During the reprocessing phase, clients often experience a shift in how they feel about the memory. What was once intensely painful or terrifying becomes more neutral or even empowering. By the end of the process, a memory that previously triggered intense fear or anxiety may feel like just another piece of the past—no longer dominating your thoughts or emotions.
3. Restoring a Sense of Safety and Control
Trauma often shatters a person’s sense of safety and control over their own life. EMDR is designed to help clients regain that sense of agency by helping them understand that the traumatic event is over and they are no longer in danger. The goal is not to forget or erase the trauma, but to help individuals experience the memory without reliving it. EMDR helps them reclaim their power, allowing them to respond to life’s challenges from a place of calm and stability rather than fear.
The 8-Phases of EMDR Therapy
One of the strengths of EMDR is its structured, step-by-step approach, which is divided into eight phases. Here’s a brief overview:
History Taking & Treatment Planning: This phase involves understanding the client’s history, identifying specific traumatic memories to target, and establishing goals for therapy.
Preparation: In this phase, I teach clients coping strategies and techniques to handle emotional distress during and between sessions. Building trust and ensuring emotional safety are key.
Assessment: This phase involves identifying the negative beliefs and physical sensations associated with the trauma, as well as identifying more adaptive, positive beliefs the client wants to embrace.
Desensitization: The heart of EMDR, this phase involves using bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, etc.) while the client focuses on the traumatic memory. Over time, the distress associated with the memory decreases.
Installation: Once the distress has been reduced, the goal is to strengthen positive beliefs that replace the negative ones tied to the traumatic event.
Body Scan: This phase focuses on identifying and releasing any residual physical tension or distress in the body associated with the trauma.
Closure: Each session is ended with grounding techniques to ensure the client leaves feeling stable and safe, even if the memory hasn't been fully processed yet.
Reevaluation: At the start of each new session, we review the progress made and determine what additional memories or issues need to be addressed.
Why EMDR Works
The success of EMDR lies in its unique approach to trauma. Unlike talk therapy, which primarily engages the thinking part of the brain, EMDR works on a deeper, more visceral level. Trauma often impacts parts of the brain that are not easily accessed through language alone, like the amygdala (which processes fear) and the hippocampus (which regulates memory). EMDR allows clients to bypass some of the cognitive barriers to healing by accessing the sensory, emotional, and unconscious parts of the brain where trauma often resides.
Research supports EMDR’s effectiveness in treating PTSD, anxiety, and other trauma-related conditions. Many clients report significant reductions in distress after just a few sessions, and the benefits are often long-lasting.
Moving Forward
Reducing traumatic stress is not about erasing memories, but about transforming how those memories are experienced. Through EMDR, individuals can come to understand that the traumatic event is part of their story, but it doesn’t have to control their present or future. They can reconnect with a sense of safety, regain control over their emotions, and feel empowered to live their lives without the constant weight of past trauma.
If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of trauma, I encourage you to reach out. Healing is not only possible—it’s within reach.
Final Thoughts
The journey through trauma is deeply personal, but it doesn't have to be traveled alone. EMDR offers a path to healing that is both compassionate and effective, allowing individuals to process what once felt unbearable. As a therapist, it is an honor to witness that healing and be part of the transformation that EMDR can bring. Whether you’re new to therapy or looking for a new approach, I hope this post has provided insight into the ways EMDR can help reduce traumatic stress and guide you toward peace.
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Weston Zink LPC LAC is the owner and primary therapist at Breakthrough Recovery of Colorado. He has over 10 years of clinical experience working with trauma and addiction. Weston is an EMDR Certified Therapist and member of EMDRIA who’s working to heal traumatized people and communities at home and abroad.
If you’re “tired of being sick and tired” and ready to take a life-changing next step in your trauma or addiction recovery journey, please contact Breakthrough Recovery of Colorado at: https://breakthroughrecoveryco.com/schedule-contact for a free consultation or to schedule an appointment.
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