Wait… I Do What With My Eyes?” — Demystifying EMDR (and Why It’s Actually Awesome)
Okay, let’s just get this out of the way: yes, EMDR sometimes involves moving your eyes back and forth—but it can also use gentle tapping or alternating sounds. No, it’s not hypnosis, mind control, or Jedi therapy (though wouldn’t that be kind of cool?). It might sound a little weird at first, but EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is actually one of the most powerful tools I use with clients to help them heal from trauma.
Let me break it down for you—therapist-style, but make it conversational.
So… What Exactly Is EMDR?
EMDR is a therapy that helps your brain do something it already knows how to do: process stuff.
Think about what happens when you sleep—especially during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Your eyes move back and forth, and your brain is busy filing away experiences, sorting emotions, and kind of like Marie Kondo-ing your mental clutter.
EMDR works in a similar way. Using bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds), we help your brain “digest” experiences that may have gotten stuck—like a mental file that crashed the system. Trauma tends to freeze those files in place. EMDR helps unfreeze them so they can be reprocessed and properly stored. The goal? You remember the experience, but it no longer overwhelms you.
But… Does It Really Work?
Yes! And no, you don’t have to believe in crystals or magic (although I’m totally on board if you do love those things). EMDR is backed by loads of research and is used worldwide for treating PTSD, complex trauma (CPTSD), anxiety, and even things like phobias and performance anxiety.
Many of my clients are surprised by how quickly they start feeling shifts. EMDR isn’t about talking something to death—it’s about helping your brain do what it naturally wants to do: heal.
Why I Love Pairing EMDR with Art Therapy & Somatic Work
Here's where the magic really happens: EMDR is amazing on its own, but when you mix it with art therapy and somatic therapy? Chef’s kiss.
Art therapy taps into the creative part of your brain that often knows things before words do. When you’re working through tough stuff, sometimes a color or an image says more than a thousand therapy sessions ever could.
Somatic therapy keeps us grounded in the body. Trauma often lives in our nervous system—it’s not just in our heads, it’s in our cells. Somatic work helps you reconnect to your body in safe, gentle ways.
When we combine these approaches, healing becomes more holistic, integrative, and—dare I say—empowering. It’s like giving your mind, body, and soul a team of allies to work with, rather than going it alone.
TL;DR?
EMDR helps your brain reprocess old pain in a safe, effective way.
It’s weird for like 5 minutes and then it starts to feel kind of magical.
Art and somatic therapies add beautiful layers of healing that speak to different parts of you.
You are so not alone in your healing process—and there’s more than one path to peace.
If you’re curious about EMDR (or you're still wondering if I'm going to wave a magic wand at your forehead), reach out. We’ll take it one step at a time, and maybe even have a few laughs along the way.
Your healing doesn’t have to be clinical and cold—it can be creative, connected, and even kind of fun. 💛
