Three Insiders' Views on the Ins and Outs of EMDR Therapy
EMDR—Have you heard of it? Do you know what those four letters stand for? What is it exactly? How long has it been around? Who invented it? Is it effective?
If you haven’t read that article, start there: “What is EMDR?”
It’s one thing to have a definition of something—EMDR—and it’s an entirely different thing to talk to people who have actually experienced it.
I was curious and eager to talk to people who had undergone EMDR therapy and to hear their real-life stories.
I reached out to those who have been through EMDR therapy with counselors from See Beyond. I asked questions, and they answered. Their honest insights give us an insider’s view into what EMDR treatment is like and what it can do to help move someone along on his or her personal healing journey.
All information shared in this article is used with permission, and the clients’ names and information have been kept confidential.
Questions:
How long ago did you experience EMDR therapy?
—6 years ago.
—I began EMDR therapy in April of 2023 and finished my last session in June of 2024.
—Since February 2024, almost weekly.
For what condition/experience were you treated for with EMDR?
—To shift perceptions of lack of self worth.
—I was working through a traumatic experience with severe weather as a child in 6th grade at school, with a tornado warning that triggered significant issues with anxiety in my life.
—I had trauma from a past experience from being jailed and mistreated by spiritual leaders.
What did you know or think about EMDR therapy before trying it?
—I knew very little.
—I had heard of EMDR, in general, and had heard testimonials of how significant it was in many others’ healing journeys. I had wanted to do it for years, however, had never had access to a good practitioner nor had the funds to afford it. When the opportunity came up, I began the process with some skepticism and some fear that I would mess up the process somehow. However, I was fully invested and eager to start it and pursue healing in a neurological way that I knew I desperately needed.
—I heard it helped heal faster. I had done a normal debriefing and a counseling session, and EMDR was recommended to me for further healing.
Who suggested this type of therapy for you?
—My therapist.
—My brother-in-law had done it many years ago and sang its praises, so my sister had encouraged me to look into it. Also, my counselor and I had discussed it several times as a potential help in my pursuit of healing.
—It was recommended during a regular debriefing and counseling session.
Were you hesitant to try EMDR? If so, what were your concerns?
—Not at all. Just a little baffled at the thought of it until I dived in.
—I was mostly hesitant due to the financial implications of it and the fear that it would work for other people but somehow it wouldn’t work for me. Or, I had hesitations because I felt like my trauma wasn’t “big” enough for it. Other people had been through way “harder” things than I had, and EMDR was more for those kinds of situations.
—Yes, I thought it was for serious mental issues, such as war trauma, rape, or something more serious than mine.
How many sessions of EMDR therapy did you do (and how long were the sessions)?
—Six, an average of 70 minutes/session.
—I lost track of how many sessions. From the end of March 2023 to the end of June 2024 was how long I was consistently in the therapy. There were a couple of long interruptions, but we met weekly or bi-weekly, depending on the schedule availability. The sessions ranged from 50–90 minutes.
—The sessions lasted 75 minutes, and I had approximately 13 sessions.
How would you describe the therapy and EMDR experience? What was it like?
—Initially very new and abstract, but actually six sessions were very effective in changing a life-long, self-sabotaging perception.
—I began my therapy journey with two days of in-person sessions, then did the rest online. I would describe the experience as very intense. There were many weeks where I would have to actively remind myself that doing the hard work—going back to the hard memory and spending an hour of the day going deep into the crevices of my brain—would be worth it. It could be emotionally exhausting, and most sessions involved tears. It was absolutely worth it, and the healing and insane grace in it have been incredible.
—The sessions helped me to view myself in a different way, that I had value and I am able to forgive.
Did you notice a difference immediately or over time after the treatment? What kinds of differences did you notice?
—Immediately . . . within 24 hours of a 6-session process, I was experiencing clear results. It was powerful how immediate the effect became clear. More self-confidence.
—I’ve mostly noticed a difference over time in very specific situations. For example, my ability to cope with things like flying and bad weather gradually strengthened over time. I’m able to respond to the lies that I once believed when thunderstorms or turbulence on a plane happened and fight them better. Doing things I need to do to regulate my nervous system has become a more natural response to stressful environments and situations than before. I’m not completely fear-free or able to let a thunderstorm go by without some sort of shakiness in my chest, but I’m able to be aware of those sensations and respond to them in a much healthier way.
—I notice being able to control my anger better. I notice my emotions that lead to anger and identify that they come from my trauma experience. I don’t feel that my anger controls me anymore.
Did others also notice these differences in you?
—Not sure. I am single and live abroad, away from family, so few people know my micro habits and inner thoughts, at least those who might have seen the results.
—Yes. My therapist would often mention a difference he was noticing. My husband has been encouraging and made me aware of how things have been different for me since the healing journey began through EMDR.
—I think my wife has noticed a difference. I used to isolate myself when I was angry, and now, she notices that I am able to talk about things more.
How long-lasting have these changes been for you?
—They are still evident today.
—I’m learning to implement tools and strategies I’ve developed in the EMDR process and live out of that healed place. I’m making margin in my life very intentionally to make sure I don’t sink back into old habits and thinking patterns that I operated in before.
—The changes have continued the last three months.
Would you recommend EMDR therapy to other friends and family members? If so, what would you say to convince someone of the effectiveness of this therapy?
—Definitely. Stepping forward, letting go, and diving into this practice, initially so bizarre, was one of the best things I've ever done, liberating my own crystalized limitations.
—I would absolutely recommend EMDR to anyone and actually already have suggested it to a few people. I believe the neurological brain work that was done, combined with the spiritual work, was crucial. I don’t know if I would have had the same response or have had this significant of healing if it had been strictly focused on the neurological. Through my faith, too, I have received healing in some very hard places and wounds in the journey of EMDR.
—Yes! I would say we don’t know how our brain works, but now, we have a good understanding of this tool. I was amazed how this tool helped me to disconnect the incident from my emotions.
What About You?
This insider’s journey into EMDR is fascinating and reveals a lot.
If you or someone you know would like to know more about EMDR or perhaps set up a session with a See Beyond counselor to better explore this healing tool, please contact us.
