EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) has a reputation for being mysterious — something involving eye movements that somehow erases trauma. The reality is both more straightforward and more interesting than that. If you’re considering EMDR therapy in Vancouver and want to know what actually happens in a session, this is what to expect.
What EMDR Is — and What It Isn’t
EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. It is one of the most thoroughly researched treatments for PTSD and trauma, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychological Association (APA), and the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
It is not hypnosis. You are fully conscious and in control throughout. The eye movements (or other bilateral stimulation — tapping, tones) are a tool, not the treatment itself. The treatment is the reprocessing: helping your brain complete the processing of a traumatic memory that got stuck.
Why Trauma Memories Get Stuck
When something overwhelming happens, the brain’s normal memory processing is disrupted. The memory gets stored in a raw, unprocessed form — with the original emotions, body sensations, and beliefs intact. Every time something in the present triggers that memory, you don’t just remember it: you re-experience it, as if part of you is still there.
EMDR works by activating the traumatic memory while simultaneously engaging the brain in bilateral stimulation (side-to-side eye movements, or alternating taps or tones). This appears to mimic what happens during REM sleep, when the brain processes and integrates experiences. The stuck memory gets processed. Its emotional charge reduces. It becomes a past event rather than a present one.
The 8 Phases of EMDR — What Happens in Each Session
EMDR is structured in 8 phases across multiple sessions. Here is what each phase involves:
Phase 1: History and Treatment Planning
Your therapist takes a full history — not just of the trauma, but of your life, your current supports, and what’s driving your symptoms now. Together you identify the target memories to work on and the order to approach them.
Phase 2: Preparation
Before processing any trauma, your therapist teaches you stabilisation techniques — ways to manage distress if the work becomes overwhelming. This phase can take multiple sessions. You won’t be pushed into processing before you’re ready.
Phases 3–6: Assessment, Desensitization, Installation, Body Scan
This is the core processing work. You bring to mind a target memory — a specific image, the negative belief associated with it, and where you feel it in your body. While holding this in mind, you follow your therapist’s fingers (or listen to alternating tones, or receive alternating taps on your knees). After each set, you report what comes up. The therapist follows where your brain goes — you don’t have to narrate everything.
Processing continues until the memory’s distress level (measured on a 0–10 scale) drops to 0 or 1. Then a positive belief is installed to replace the old negative one — for example, moving from “I am powerless” to “I can handle it now.”
Phases 7–8: Closure and Re-evaluation
Each session ends with a closure exercise to ensure you leave in a stable state. At the start of the next session, your therapist checks what has shifted between sessions — EMDR processing often continues after a session ends, as the brain keeps integrating.
How Many EMDR Sessions Does It Take?
For a single-incident trauma (a car accident, a specific assault, a medical event), significant processing can happen in 6–12 sessions. For complex or developmental trauma — abuse, neglect, war, or repeated events across years — the process takes longer, often 20–40+ sessions. The timeline reflects the number and complexity of memories to process, not how “broken” you are.
What People Often Notice After EMDR Sessions
Processing continues after sessions. Many clients notice vivid dreams, sudden memories surfacing, unexpected emotions, or — more often — a quiet sense that something has shifted. The memory is still there, but it feels different: like something that happened to you in the past rather than something happening to you now. Physical symptoms tied to trauma (tension, hypervigilance, startle response) often reduce alongside the psychological ones.
Frequently Asked Questions About EMDR
Does EMDR work for complex PTSD?
Yes, though it takes longer. Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) involves multiple traumatic events, often from childhood, and typically requires more preparation work before processing begins. EMDR is one of the recommended treatments for C-PTSD, often combined with other stabilisation approaches.
Is EMDR better than CBT for trauma?
Both are evidence-based for PTSD. Research generally shows EMDR and trauma-focused CBT produce similar outcomes, but EMDR often achieves them faster and with less homework or verbal processing of the traumatic content — which some clients find preferable. The right choice depends on the individual.
Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail during EMDR?
No. EMDR does not require you to narrate or describe the trauma in detail. You hold the memory in mind internally while the bilateral stimulation does the work. Many clients find this a significant relief compared to traditional talk therapy for trauma.
Related Services
Dr. Samuel offers EMDR therapy in Vancouver for trauma and PTSD. Related services: trauma therapy Vancouver, neurofeedback for PTSD, individual therapy. For Iranian-Canadian clients: Iranian therapist Vancouver.
About the Author
Dr. Samuel Ezzatilord, RCC, CCC, DHSc is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and EMDR-trained therapist in Vancouver, BC. He holds a Doctorate in Health Sciences and is registered with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). He offers therapy in English and Farsi, specializing in trauma, PTSD, EMDR, and neurofeedback. Learn more about Dr. Samuel.