Exploring the Stages of EMDR Therapy: Preparation to Resolution

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a transformative approach for addressing trauma, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. If you’re considering EMDR therapy, understanding its stages can provide clarity and ease any uncertainties. This article will guide you through the eight phases of EMDR therapy, with a focus on the preparation phase, which lays the foundation for effective healing.

The Eight Stages of EMDR Therapy

1. History-Taking and Treatment Planning: Your therapist gathers information about your life, identifies specific memories or experiences to target, and creates a personalized treatment plan. This phase establishes the roadmap for therapy.

   
   

2. Preparation: The preparation phase focuses on building trust between you and your therapist. This phase is essential for laying the groundwork and ensuring that you feel supported as you move into the more intensive stages of therapy. It includes:

   • Learning coping strategies to manage emotional distress.

   • Gaining an understanding of how EMDR works, including its use of bilateral stimulation.

   • Addressing concerns, setting goals, and fostering a sense of safety.

     
     

3. Assessment: During assessment, your therapist helps you identify specific memories, emotions, and beliefs associated with distress. They may also determine the "negative cognitions" or self-beliefs linked to these experiences.

   
   

4. Desensitization: This is where bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones) is used to process traumatic memories. It helps reduce the emotional charge of distressing events.

   
   

5. Installation: Positive beliefs, such as “I am safe” or “I am enough,” are strengthened and installed to replace negative cognitions.

   
   

6. Body Scan: You’ll focus on any residual physical sensations connected to the memory. The goal is to ensure both your body and mind are free from distress.

   
   

7. Closure: Each session ends with a sense of resolution. Coping techniques may be reinforced, ensuring you leave the session feeling grounded.

   
   

8. Reevaluation: At the start of subsequent sessions, progress is reviewed. Your therapist evaluates whether further processing is needed for specific memories or if new issues have emerged.

A woman peacefully practices mindfulness and breathing exercises by the water's edge, surrounded by nature.

Why Preparation is Key

The preparation phase is often overlooked but is crucial for success in EMDR therapy. Many clients enter therapy feeling vulnerable or overwhelmed. Through preparation, your therapist helps you build emotional resilience, practice grounding exercises, and foster a collaborative relationship.

Techniques such as guided visualization, mindfulness practices, and deep breathing exercises are commonly introduced. These tools empower you to manage distress both in and out of therapy, ensuring you feel ready for the deeper stages of EMDR.

Recommendations for EMDR Resources

If you’re curious about EMDR therapy or want to enhance your preparation phase, consider these resources:

Books:

• Getting Past Your Past: Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy by Francine Shapiro.

• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk.

Podcasts:

• Therapist Uncensored (Episodes on trauma and healing).

• Notice That: An EMDR Podcast (Insights on EMDR techniques and processes).

Workbooks:

• Tapping In: A Step-by-Step Guide to Activating Your Healing Resources Through Bilateral Stimulation by Laurel Parnell.

• The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole by Arielle Schwartz.

Final Thoughts

EMDR therapy is a transformative journey, with each phase playing a vital role in healing. By understanding these stages and investing in preparation, you’re taking an important step toward emotional resilience and lasting change. With the right tools and support, you can reclaim your sense of self and move toward a life of greater peace and empowerment. 

Whether you’re considering EMDR therapy for yourself or seeking ways to support a loved one, remember that help is available.

If you or someone you love resonates with the experiences described here, know that working with a trauma-informed therapist can provide the support and tools you need to navigate your unique healing path. Robyn Sevigny, LMFT, specializes in trauma-informed care, including EMDR therapy, and is committed to helping individuals find healing, wholeness, and empowerment.

Contact me today for a consultation to explore how we can work together to help you feel more empowered, connected, and confident in your life. Your journey toward healing begins with the right support.

Affiliate Disclosure Statement

Some of the resources recommended in this post may include affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase a product through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Please note that while I do not claim to have read or listened to all these resources in their entirety, I recommend them based on their reputation, professional value, and their frequent inclusion in recommendations shared within the therapeutic community. These resources align with evidence-based practices and are widely regarded as helpful tools for individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, and Complex PTSD.

Your trust is important to me, and I strive to offer resources that support your healing journey. Thank you for supporting my work and the resources I create to empower and guide individuals on their path to recovery.