When something overwhelming or traumatic happens, your brain doesn’t always process it the way it normally would. Instead of becoming a memory that feels “in the past,” it can get stuck. When it’s stuck, it may still feel intense, upsetting, or triggering—almost like it’s happening all over again. That’s why certain memories, smells, sounds, or situations can bring up strong emotions, anxiety, or physical reactions.

EMDR helps your brain “unstick” those memories.

During an EMDR session, you briefly focus on a difficult memory while also doing something that stimulates both sides of your brain—usually following the therapist’s fingers back and forth with your eyes, listening to alternating tones through headphones, or tapping your hands. This back-and-forth movement helps your brain reprocess the memory in a healthier way.

You’re not erasing the memory. Instead, the goal is to:

• Reduce the emotional intensity connected to it

• Help your brain store it as something that happened in the past

• Shift negative beliefs (like “I’m not safe” or “It was my fault”) into more balanced, accurate ones

Many people describe it as the memory feeling more distant, less charged, or less painful after EMDR.

It’s commonly used for trauma and PTSD, but it can also help with anxiety, phobias, panic, grief, and other distressing experiences.

In short: EMDR helps your brain do the natural healing work it wasn’t able to complete at the time the event happened.