Part 1 - EMDR Therapy for PTSD: Why Eye Movements Work

If you’ve ever wondered how moving your eyes back and forth could help heal old hurts, you’re not alone. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps your brain reprocess distressing memories so they feel less vivid, less charged, and more integrated into your life story.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) actually list EMDR therapy for PTSD as one of the first-line trauma-focused treatments, alongside Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) (Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense, 2023).

EMDR Explained: What is EMDR?

EMDR follows an eight-phase protocol: history-taking, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation (Shapiro, 2018). Put simply, EMDR helps your brain “unstick” trauma memories so they can be processed in a healthier way.

The Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model suggests our brains naturally know how to heal, but trauma can overwhelm that system, leaving memories stored in a raw, unprocessed form. EMDR gives the brain another chance to finish that healing process (Shapiro, 2018).

Why Eye Movements Help

In EMDR, you bring a memory to mind while also doing something rhythmic, like moving your eyes side to side, following a light bar, or using alternating taps. The most accepted explanation is the working-memory theory: because your working memory can only hold so much at once, doing a task like eye movements while recalling a painful memory makes that memory feel less intense and less vivid over time (Lee & Cuijpers, 2013; van den Hout & Engelhard, 2012).

Does EMDR Work?

The short answer: yes. Research consistently shows EMDR works just as well as other gold-standard trauma therapies. Reviews and meta-analyses confirm it reduces PTSD symptoms, helps people feel more resilient, and leads to long-term improvements (Mavranezouli et al., 2020; Watts et al., 2013). A large 2024 study also confirmed that EMDR is just as effective as other top therapies when it comes to reducing symptoms and helping people reach remission (Matthijssen et al., 2024).

This is why so many clinicians recommend EMDR therapy for PTSD; it’s effective, evidence-based, and accessible.

Busting Common Myths

• “It’s hypnosis.” Nope, you’re awake, alert, and in control the whole time.

• “It erases memories.” EMDR doesn’t delete memories; it helps take the sting out of them.

• “You have to tell every detail.” Not true; EMDR can be effective even without sharing all the details of your trauma out loud (Shapiro, 2018).

How Common Is PTSD?

PTSD is more common than most people think. Around 3.6% of U.S. adults experience PTSD each year, and lifetime prevalence is roughly 6–7% (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2019). The good news is there are effective, evidence-based treatments—and EMDR is one of them.

Pulling It All Together

At the end of the day, EMDR isn’t magic—it’s science. Dozens of studies show it’s a powerful way to help people process trauma, reduce distress, and move forward (Matthijssen et al., 2024; Watts et al., 2013). The eye movements might feel unusual at first, but the relief many people experience is very real.

If you’ve been carrying painful memories or feel stuck in the past, know you’re not alone. PTSD and trauma-related distress affect millions of people every year (NIMH, 2019), and recovery is absolutely possible. EMDR therapy for PTSD is one of several evidence-based approaches that can help you feel safer, calmer, and more present in your daily life.

👉 Curious about EMDR? I offer both weekly sessions and EMDR intensives here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as well as virtually in Texas. I accept Aetna and Cigna insurance and also provide private-pay slots. Click here to learn more or schedule a consultation; we’ll figure out together if EMDR is the right next step for your healing journey.

References

Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense. (2023). VA/DoD clinical practice guideline for the management of posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder. Washington, DC.

Lee, C. W., & Cuijpers, P. (2013). A meta-analysis of the contribution of eye movements in processing emotional memories. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 44(2), 231–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2012.11.001

Matthijssen, S. J. M. A., et al. (2024). Individual participant data meta-analysis of EMDR for PTSD. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 15(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2023.2268941

Mavranezouli, I., et al. (2020). Cost-effectiveness of psychological treatments for PTSD in adults. PLoS ONE, 15(4), e0232245. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232245

National Institute of Mental Health. (2019). Post-traumatic stress disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder

Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.

van den Hout, M. A., & Engelhard, I. M. (2012). How does EMDR work? Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 3(5), 724–738. https://doi.org/10.5127/jep.028212

Watts, B. V., et al. (2013). Meta-analysis of the efficacy of treatments for PTSD. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 74(6), e541–e550. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.12r08225