EMDR for Complex PTSD and Childhood Trauma
Complex PTSD and childhood trauma can leave deep emotional scars, but there is hope for healing. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a proven approach to help people process traumatic memories and find relief. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain how EMDR works for complex PTSD and childhood trauma in a reader-friendly way. You’ll learn what to expect from EMDR, why it’s effective, and get answers to common questions. Our aim is to give you clear, helpful information so you can understand if EMDR might be right for you or a loved one.
Key Takeaways
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD) is caused by prolonged or repeated trauma (often in childhood) and can lead to difficulties like emotional regulation problems, attachment issues, and low self-esteem. EMDR therapy can help by gently working through these deep-seated traumas in a safe, structured way.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based trauma therapy that uses guided eye movements (or other forms of bilateral stimulation) while recalling traumatic events. This process helps the brain reprocess trauma so it no longer feels as overwhelming, without requiring you to talk about every detail of what happened.
Effective for PTSD and Complex Trauma: EMDR is one of the most effective treatments for PTSD. Research and clinical guidelines have found EMDR can significantly reduce symptoms and even eliminate PTSD for many individuals. People with multiple or long-term traumas (complex PTSD) can also benefit from EMDR – treatment may simply take longer and proceed more gradually, focusing first on safety and stabilization.
Healing Childhood Trauma: Many adults carry wounds from childhood trauma. EMDR therapy helps by addressing those early traumatic memories (even if they are fuzzy or preverbal) and the negative beliefs formed as a result. Over time, EMDR can reduce emotional pain, improve self-esteem, and allow you to feel “unstuck” from the past. As one survivor put it, “I never imagined I could become so free from the memories of my childhood abuse.”'
Safe and Supportive Process: EMDR is done by a trained therapist in an 8-phase process that prioritizes your safety. Before tackling painful memories, you’ll build coping resources and ensure you feel stable. During reprocessing, the therapist will help keep you “in the present” so you don’t become overwhelmed. EMDR does not erase your memories – it neutralizes their emotional charge. Aside from temporary emotions or tiredness after sessions, EMDR has low risks. Most people experience relief and empowerment as trauma loses its grip on their life.
EMDR therapy offers a pathway to healing even if your trauma is complex or long-lasting. Below, we’ll explore what complex PTSD and childhood trauma involve, how EMDR therapy works step by step, and why it’s so effective in these situations. We’ll also cover adaptations therapists use with EMDR for complex trauma (like going slower and using grounding techniques) and share some inspiring insights from experts. Finally, you’ll find a Q&A section addressing the top questions people have about EMDR and trauma. By the end, you should have a clear understanding of EMDR for complex PTSD and childhood trauma – and hope that recovery is possible.
Want to dive deeper into how EMDR can help with anxiety? Read our full guide on EMDR Therapy for Anxiety.
Understanding Complex PTSD and Childhood Trauma
What is Complex PTSD? Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) results from long-term, repeated trauma, often beginning in childhood. Unlike a single-event trauma (like a car accident or natural disaster), complex trauma might involve ongoing abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or other chronic stressors. Because the trauma is prolonged, C-PTSD can affect a person’s development, sense of self, and ability to form secure relationships. In complex PTSD, you might experience typical PTSD symptoms (flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety) plus additional challenges like: difficulty regulating your emotions, feeling ashamed or guilty, trouble trusting others, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness or emptiness. There is often an “injury” to one’s identity and self-worth because the trauma happened during formative years or was inflicted by someone who was supposed to care for you (such as a parent or caregiver).
Childhood Trauma: Childhood trauma refers to traumatic experiences that occur during childhood – for example, physical or sexual abuse, chronic neglect, witnessing violence, or even emotional abuse like constant criticism or lack of affection. Trauma can also include what didn’t happen, such as not receiving the love, protection, or attention a child needs (sometimes called attachment trauma). When trauma happens in childhood, it can disrupt normal brain development and coping abilities. Children may learn to survive by dissociating (disconnecting from reality) or by believing negative ideas like “I’m worthless” or “I must have caused this.” If untreated, childhood trauma can lead to long-lasting effects in adulthood: for instance, anxiety, depression, difficulty regulating emotions, low self-esteem, trust and relationship problems, and even health issues. In fact, a famous CDC study on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) found that the more traumatic events a person experienced as a child, the higher their risk for problems like mental illness, substance abuse, and chronic health conditions later in life.
Many people with complex PTSD are actually adults who experienced childhood trauma. Their trauma was not a one-time event, but a series of hurts that occurred when they were young and vulnerable. This is why complex PTSD often includes attachment and interpersonal difficulties – the trauma was intertwined with relationships (e.g. abuse by a caregiver, or neglect by those who should have provided support). It’s also common for survivors of childhood trauma to have gaps in memory or preverbal trauma (trauma that happened so early that the person has no clear memories, only emotional/somatic impressions). They might have strong emotional reactions or body sensations in certain situations without fully understanding why – these can be echoes of early trauma stored in the brain’s nonverbal memory.
How Complex Trauma Manifests: Complex PTSD isn’t a formal diagnosis separate from PTSD in many diagnostic manuals (aside from the World Health Organization’s ICD-11 which recognizes it), but therapists use the term to describe the cluster of symptoms from prolonged trauma. Common signs include: chronic feelings of mistrust or insecurity, dissociation (feeling “checked out” or detached), difficulties controlling anger or sadness, and feeling overwhelmed by minor stresses. People with complex trauma histories may have a hard time with intimate relationships or may feel ”stuck” in patterns that stem from childhood. For example, someone might deeply fear abandonment and either cling tightly to others or preemptively push people away to avoid being hurt. These are understandable coping mechanisms that formed during the traumatic times. The good news is that treatments like EMDR can help rewire those trauma-related responses and foster healing.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a psychotherapy approach developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s to help people recover from trauma. At its core, EMDR is designed to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories that got “stuck.” Normally, when something upsetting happens, your brain processes it over time so that it becomes a distant, manageable memory. But with trauma, the memory can remain raw and unprocessed, causing intense reactions as if the event is still happening. EMDR helps the brain properly digest these memories so they lose their painful intensity.
How EMDR Works: EMDR therapy has eight structured phases, but it can be understood in a few key steps: First, you will work with your therapist on feeling safe and prepared. This includes talking a bit about your history and learning coping skills (like relaxation or grounding techniques). When you’re ready, you’ll identify a traumatic memory to focus on. During the reprocessing part, the therapist will ask you to recall aspects of the traumatic memory – for example, the image, feelings, and thoughts associated with it – while guiding you through bilateral stimulation. Bilateral stimulation often means following the therapist’s fingers or a light bar with your eyes left and right, but it could also be tapping or tones alternating in each ear. This back-and-forth rhythmic stimulation seems to activate the brain’s natural adaptive processing. As strange as it might sound, this method helps your brain connect with the stored trauma and start healing it. Over a series of eye-movement sets, you may notice the memory becoming less upsetting. You might start to feel differently about it – for instance, instead of “I’m powerless,” you begin to feel “I survived, and I’m strong.” The therapist will gently prompt you to share whatever comes up, but you don’t have to describe the trauma in detail or relive it at length. EMDR isn’t hypnosis; you remain awake and in control, just focusing internally.
Eight Phases in Brief: EMDR therapy follows an eight-phase protocol:
History and Treatment Planning: You share your background and trauma history with the therapist. Together you identify targets (memories or issues) to address.
Preparation: The therapist makes sure you have skills to handle emotional distress. You might practice a “safe place” visualization or other grounding techniques. The goal is for you to feel stable and supported before touching the trauma.
Assessment: You pick a specific memory to work on and note the vivid image, the negative belief about yourself (e.g. “I am in danger” or “It was my fault”), and any emotions/body sensations linked to that memory. You also identify a positive belief you’d like to have (e.g. “I am safe now” or “I am worthy”).
Desensitization (Reprocessing): With the memory in mind, you engage in the eye movements or other bilateral stimulation. You just notice what thoughts, feelings, or images arise and occasionally report to the therapist. The aim is that the distress related to the memory gradually decreases.
Installation: Once the distress is low, you focus on the chosen positive belief and “install” it with further eye movements, so that this positive thought feels true and deeply rooted.
Body Scan: You check your body for any residual tension. If something is still uncomfortable, that gets processed too.
Closure: The therapist ensures you return to a calm state at the end of the session. They may guide you through relaxation exercises before you leave. They’ll also remind you that processing may continue between sessions (you might have vivid dreams, for example, which is normal).
Re-evaluation: At the next session, you review progress – how you’re feeling and if the memory is truly resolved or if anything more needs work.
EMDR is not a one-session miracle cure; it typically involves multiple sessions, especially for complex trauma. However, it often works faster than traditional talk therapy for resolving trauma. In some cases, people see significant improvement in a few sessions for a single incident trauma. With multiple traumas, treatment will take longer – but EMDR can still be very efficient because it doesn’t require spending months or years talking through every trauma in detail. Instead, it harnesses your brain’s adaptive processing to heal from the inside out.
How EMDR Helps with Complex PTSD
If you have complex PTSD or a long history of trauma, you might be wondering: Will EMDR work for me? The answer from trauma experts is yes – with the right approach, EMDR can be life-changing for complex trauma survivorsdenverwellnesscounseling.comdenverwellnesscounseling.com. That said, EMDR for complex PTSD often looks a bit different than EMDR for a single-event trauma. Therapists usually adapt the standard EMDR protocol to ensure it’s safe and effective for more complex cases.
Here are some key ways EMDR is used (and adjusted) for complex PTSD and childhood trauma:
Extended Preparation: A common saying in trauma therapy is “slow is fast.” This means taking extra time to build trust and coping skills at the start, so deeper healing can happen later. For someone with complex PTSD, an EMDR therapist might spend several sessions (or as long as needed) on Phase 1 and 2 (history-taking and preparation) before processing any traumatic memory. You’ll work on expanding your “window of tolerance” (your ability to stay present with emotions without dissociating or panicking). This might involve practicing mindfulness, grounding techniques, or resource development (like strengthening positive memories or imagery that make you feel safe). The goal is to ensure that when you start reprocessing trauma, you have the tools to handle emotional waves.
Stabilization and Safety First: Early in EMDR treatment for complex trauma, your therapist will focus on stabilization. This means making sure you feel secure in the therapy process. You and your therapist might develop signals to pause if things feel overwhelming, and create a plan for managing dissociation or intense emotions (for instance, taking breaks, using a calming object, or doing a guided visualization). EMDR therapists are very aware of dissociation safety – helping clients stay grounded so they don’t get lost in traumatic memories. If you have a tendency to dissociate (which is common in complex PTSD as a survival mechanism), the therapist will use a paced approach. They might process the trauma in tiny pieces or use a technique called “pendulation,” where you dip into the trauma for a moment and then come back to the present repeatedly. This strengthens your ability to face trauma without emotionally shutting down.
Attachment Focus and “Parts” Work: Because childhood trauma often involves attachment wounds (hurt that occurred in relationships), EMDR for complex PTSD can incorporate attachment-focused interventions. One such adaptation is attachment resourcing – exercises to help you internalize a sense of being loved, protected, or nurtured, which you might have missed in childhood. For example, you might visualize compassionate figures or memories to counteract the loneliness or fear from past abuse. Therapists may also integrate parts work, drawing from Internal Family Systems (IFS) or inner-child work. This means acknowledging that different “parts” of you (like a hurt child part, a protective part, etc.) exist and need healing. EMDR can be used to help these parts of yourself communicate and heal. For instance, during processing you might focus on a memory while also paying attention to what your younger self felt, and then give that inner child the comfort they never received. This integration of parts leads to a greater sense of wholeness – you come to accept and care for all aspects of yourself. (This is where “parts work (IFS) integration” can be an important internal resource – blending EMDR with IFS principles to heal childhood wounds.)
Reprocessing in Stages: With complex trauma, there are usually many memories or layers to address. Therapists often have to decide where to start. One strategy is to work from the present backwards. Instead of diving into your earliest, most painful childhood memory first (which could be destabilizing), the therapist might start with a more recent traumatic memory or a current trigger that’s bothering you. As you gain confidence and relief from those, they gradually move to earlier events. This way, you build strength and resilience before facing the oldest, deepest wounds. Another strategy is targeting themes rather than every single event. For example, if someone endured years of similar abuse, the therapist might target a representative memory or the worst moment, and that can generalize to heal related memories. You don’t necessarily have to reprocess every traumatic incident – often the mind will naturally generalize healing to other memories once the major ones are resolved.
Handling Overwhelm: It’s normal for people with complex PTSD to worry that doing trauma therapy will make them fall apart. EMDR has built-in mechanisms to handle this concern. As mentioned, the therapist will only “go as fast as the slowest part of you feels safe to go.” If intense feelings come up, they can use techniques to dial things back. Titration is one such technique – breaking down the trauma into small, manageable pieces and processing little by little. If distress spikes, the therapist will guide you to pause, breathe, or use a calming resource before continuing. EMDR lets the client remain in control; you can always signal to slow down. Importantly, research has shown that when done correctly, EMDR does not re-traumatize clients – instead, clients often feel a big sense of relief as the trauma loses its hold. One client described the experience after EMDR as “so much weight has been lifted off my shoulders”. In fact, many say EMDR was challenging at times, but ultimately empowering – because you process what felt impossible to face, and you come out stronger.
Effective Outcomes: Multiple studies support EMDR’s effectiveness for complex trauma. For example, a systematic review of research found growing evidence that EMDR is effective for treating trauma in both children and adults with complex histories. Therapists have observed that even if someone has suffered for decades, EMDR can help “unstick” the trauma. It doesn’t erase the past (you’ll still remember that it happened), but it changes how you feel about it. Instead of that memory triggering panic or shame, after EMDR you might recall it like a distant story that no longer carries an emotional punch. As Dr. Arielle Schwartz, a clinical psychologist experienced in treating C-PTSD, explains: “Chronic, early developmental trauma memories are often preverbal and tend to be accompanied by dissociative symptoms. Therapists must emphasize resource development and careful pacing of EMDR so clients feel safe... You achieve successful outcomes when you slowly build tolerance for the emotions and body sensations that accompany traumatic memories. The once overwhelming symptoms of C-PTSD can resolve as the client learns to turn toward pain with greater awareness and compassion.” In other words, by proceeding gradually and safely, EMDR can indeed help someone confront and heal from even the most deep-rooted trauma. The end result is that the symptoms of complex PTSD can greatly improve – people often experience less anxiety, fewer flashbacks or nightmares, improved mood, better sleep, and an overall increase in quality of life.
EMDR for Healing Childhood Trauma
EMDR therapy is not just for adult-onset trauma; it’s highly effective for healing childhood trauma, whether you are now an adult working through childhood memories or a child/adolescent currently in therapy. Here’s how EMDR addresses the unique aspects of early trauma:
Processing Early Memories: Childhood traumas are often some of the earliest memories we carry, and some might even be implicit memories (stored as feelings or body sensations rather than clear images or stories). EMDR is well-suited for this because it doesn’t rely solely on verbal recall. For instance, if you can’t fully remember a traumatic childhood event but you have a body feeling (like a tight chest or fear without an obvious cause), EMDR can target that sensation or a fragment of memory. The bilateral stimulation seems to tap into the same memory networks, helping the brain process whatever is stored there, even if it’s preverbal. Over time, those physical and emotional reactions diminish as the underlying trauma is resolved.
Addressing Negative Beliefs from Childhood: Traumatized children often grow up with deeply ingrained negative beliefs – such as “I am unlovable,” “I’m bad,” or “I have to always be on guard.” These beliefs are a result of what the child brain concluded during trauma, and they can persist into adulthood. EMDR specifically targets these beliefs. As you reprocess a painful memory, the therapist will help you replace the negative cognition with a healthier one (“I am lovable,” “It wasn’t my fault,” “I am safe now”). Through the Installation phase of EMDR, the positive belief is reinforced until it feels true. This can lead to remarkable shifts in how you view yourself. Many clients report that after EMDR, they feel a sense of freedom – as if they finally believe what their adult self knows intellectually (that they deserved better, that they are worthy and safe).
Emotional Regulation: Children who endure trauma often struggle with managing emotions (understandably, because their nervous system was constantly in fight-flight or freeze). EMDR helps improve emotional regulation by processing triggers that cause overreactions. For example, maybe as an adult, you get disproportionately anxious when someone raises their voice – this could trace back to yelling in your childhood home. EMDR can target that trigger and memory, so your nervous system learns that a raised voice (in a normal context) is not life-threatening now. Over time, clients see reductions in anxiety, anger outbursts, or shutdown responses. Research has noted that EMDR therapy can increase feelings of calm and control for those with childhood trauma. People often feel they can handle stress better after completing EMDR treatment.
Repairing Attachment Wounds: If your trauma involved caregivers, you might have attachment wounds – difficulty trusting caregivers or believing you can be cared for. EMDR can incorporate imagery to help with this. For instance, your therapist might guide you to visualize giving comfort to your younger self, or imagine a protective figure standing up for that hurt child. These exercises, combined with the processing of actual traumatic events, help to rewrite those early relational experiences on a neural level. It’s not that the facts change, but your emotional truth does – you come to feel, “What happened to me was wrong and it wasn’t because I deserved it. I can now give myself the kindness I needed.” This can significantly improve one’s ability to form healthy relationships and trust others in the present.
Children and EMDR: EMDR is also used directly with children in therapy. Therapists adapt the techniques to be age-appropriate – often using taps or child-friendly methods (like having the child watch a light moving, or following a butterfly finger puppet) and using simpler language. Children may process trauma faster because their brains are still very adaptive. In fact, studies show EMDR is effective for youth with PTSD, helping reduce symptoms and anxiety. For a child in EMDR, the therapist ensures a very safe environment: for example, they might use drawing or play to help the child express feelings before doing any eye movements. If you’re a parent considering EMDR for a child, know that it is recognized as a safe, effective therapy for pediatric trauma when done by a qualified professional. Always seek a therapist who has specific training in EMDR with children.
Holistic Healing: One of the beautiful things about EMDR for childhood trauma is that it often creates a ripple effect of healing. As you process those early events, you might notice positive changes in various areas of life – improved self-confidence, better sleep, less chronic pain or stress-related health issues, etc. Trauma can take a toll on the body and mind, so resolving it can free your system to rebalance. The EMDR International Association notes that many people who have undergone EMDR for childhood trauma report “profound changes in their lives” and a feeling of liberation from the past.
In summary, EMDR offers a path to heal the inner child. It allows you to gently confront what happened, process the hurt, and come out the other side with a new perspective – often one of self-compassion and resilience. Childhood trauma can cast a long shadow, but EMDR helps to shine a light into those dark corners of memory and clear out the pain that’s been stored for so long.
Moving Forward: Hope and Healing Are Possible
Living with complex PTSD or unresolved childhood trauma can be exhausting. You might feel like you’ve tried everything or that nothing can truly take away that lingering pain or fear. EMDR therapy provides hope by addressing trauma in a deep yet efficient way. It’s not a magic wand – it requires courage to face your past and trust in the process – but it has helped millions of people reclaim their lives from trauma. Major organizations like the World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs endorse EMDR as a top treatment for PTSD, and therapists worldwide have adapted it to complex PTSD with excellent results.
If you or someone you care about is dealing with the effects of complex trauma or childhood abuse, consider reaching out to an EMDR-trained therapist. You don’t have to carry the burden alone. Therapy is a safe space where your experiences will be understood and validated. With EMDR, those distressing memories can finally be processed and put to rest, allowing you to move forward. Imagine being able to recall something that once triggered panic and realizing it feels neutral now, or noticing that you’re no longer plagued by nightmares and flashbacks. These kinds of transformations are possible – they are the “light at the end of the tunnel” that trauma survivors describe after EMDR.
Healing from complex PTSD and childhood trauma is a journey, often with ups and downs, but EMDR can be a powerful guide on that journey. It helps your brain do what it naturally wants to do: heal. As one EMDR client said after processing years of childhood trauma, “I’d recommend it – it helped me SO much... however you process is OK”. That reminder is important: everyone’s healing process is their own, and EMDR meets you where you are. With patience, support, and effective therapy, recovery is not just possible – it’s likely. You deserve to live a life that isn’t defined by your past. EMDR can be a key to unlocking that healthier, happier future.
Take the next step: If you’re ready to start healing from complex PTSD or childhood trauma, reach out to a licensed EMDR therapist. (Our team at South Denver Therapy is here to help – you can get help for complex trauma and begin your journey toward recovery.) No matter how long or complicated your trauma history is, EMDR therapy offers a path forward. You don’t have to remain stuck – relief and change are truly achievable.
Frequently Asked Questions about EMDR and Trauma
Below we answer some of the most common questions people have about EMDR therapy for complex PTSD and childhood trauma:
Q: Does EMDR therapy really work for complex PTSD?
A: Yes. EMDR has been shown to be effective for complex PTSD, though it often requires a modified approach and more time than for single-incident PTSD. Therapists may need to spend extra sessions on stabilization and tackle traumatic memories in a careful sequence. Studies and clinical experience indicate that people with C-PTSD do improve with EMDR – reporting fewer symptoms and better daily functioning. In fact, EMDR is considered a top treatment for trauma-related disorders by organizations like ISTSS and WHO. The key is working with a skilled EMDR therapist who understands complex trauma.
Q: Is EMDR safe if I have a lot of trauma or tend to dissociate?
A: When conducted by a trained professional, EMDR is safe for people with extensive trauma histories. A good EMDR therapist will go at a pace you can handle. They will teach you grounding techniques and make a plan to keep you “in the present” during sessions. It’s normal to have some intense emotions during EMDR, but you won’t be forced to relive anything beyond what you can tolerate. Therapists monitor for dissociation (feeling spacey or disconnected) and use strategies to manage it (like taking breaks, refocusing on your surroundings, or using shorter sets of eye movements). EMDR has a low risk of any lasting negative side effects. The most common thing people report is feeling tired or having vivid dreams after a session – which is just your brain continuing to process. If you do start to feel overwhelmed, you can always tell your therapist and you’ll slow down. Your safety is the top priority.
Q: Do I have to talk about my trauma in detail during EMDR?
A: No, one advantage of EMDR is that you don’t have to provide a detailed description of the trauma if you don’t want to. Unlike some talk therapies where you might need to repeatedly recount what happened, in EMDR you just need to bring the memory to mind. You’ll share the basic nature of it (for example, “It was a car accident” or “I was abused as a child”), but you don’t have to describe every detail. During the eye movements, your therapist might ask what you notice (like emotions or sensations), but you can respond generally. Many people find this aspect of EMDR much less painful than expected – you process the trauma internally, with guidance, rather than retelling the story over and over.
Q: What if I can’t remember parts of my trauma or I only have body feelings? Can EMDR still help?
A: Yes, EMDR can still help. It’s common for survivors of childhood trauma or severe trauma to have incomplete memories or blanks. EMDR does not require a clear picture of the event. If you have flashes of memory, or just the emotions and body sensations, those can be targeted. For instance, you might focus on the feeling of fear you get without a specific image, and the EMDR processing can work on that. Therapists can also help you identify “themes” or feelings to target when exact memories are elusive. EMDR’s ability to process implicit memory is one reason it’s effective for early childhood trauma – it works on the stored feelings in the nervous system even if your conscious memory is fuzzy. Over the course of therapy, some people even recover certain memories, but more importantly, they lose the grip of the trauma (even the parts they can’t consciously recall) on their present life.
Q: How long does EMDR therapy take for complex trauma or childhood trauma?
A: The length of EMDR treatment varies widely depending on the individual and the amount of trauma. For a single-trauma PTSD, EMDR might take around 3-10 sessions for significant improvement. For complex PTSD or multiple childhood traumas, therapy can take longer – sometimes several months to a year or more of regular sessions. Remember, complex trauma often involves many memories and issues to work through. That said, progress often comes faster than with talk therapy alone. You might start noticing some relief after a few sessions (for example, a reduction in nightmares or anxiety). A common approach is to have weekly or bi-weekly sessions initially. As you improve, sessions might be spaced out more. It’s a very individual process – the therapist will regularly check in on how you’re feeling and adjust the pace. The goal is quality of healing, not rushing through. Even if it takes time, each processed memory is a step towards freedom from the past.
Q: Can children and teens go through EMDR for their trauma?
A: Yes, EMDR is used successfully with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. Therapists will modify the technique to be age-appropriate. For younger kids, this might include using hand taps or having them follow a moving object (like tapping the therapist’s hands) instead of standard eye movement, since children can have shorter attention spans. Sessions might be made playful (for example, a “worry monster” that they can zap with eye movements). Research has found EMDR to be effective and safe for children with PTSD – they often show reduced symptoms after treatment. It’s important to work with a clinician trained in EMDR for children. Parental involvement is also important; the therapist might work with the parent on how to support the child between sessions. Overall, kids tend to be quite resilient and can respond quickly to EMDR, which prevents long-term issues by addressing trauma early.
Q: What are the side effects or after-effects of EMDR?
A: EMDR does not have side effects in the way medication does, but there are a few things to be aware of. Right after a session, you might feel tired or emotionally sensitive – kind of like you’ve done a big workout for your brain. Some people have vivid or strange dreams in the days following a session, as their brain continues to process. This is normal and usually not distressing (often the dreams help work through material as well). Between sessions, you might notice old memories popping up or a temporary increase in emotions; again, this is part of the processing. Your therapist will prepare you for this and give you tools (like journaling or relaxation exercises) to handle it. It’s rare, but a small number of people might feel a bit worse before they feel better – usually early in treatment – because stirring up trauma can bring out emotions. However, this is typically short-term and closely managed by the therapist. Overall, EMDR’s risks are minimal, and the benefits of reducing trauma symptoms far outweigh the temporary discomfort for most individuals. If you ever feel concerned about what you’re experiencing during EMDR, discuss it with your therapist so they can adjust the treatment.
Q: How is EMDR different from other trauma therapies like talk therapy or exposure therapy?
A: EMDR is different in that it doesn’t rely on prolonged exposure (repeatedly reliving the trauma) or extensive verbal processing. Traditional talk therapy might help you gain insight or coping strategies, but it can sometimes fall short in resolving the body-level and subconscious impact of trauma. Exposure therapy (like Prolonged Exposure) requires recounting the trauma in detail over and over, which can be very challenging for some people. EMDR, by contrast, uses the bilateral stimulation to achieve a similar goal of desensitizing the trauma, but often more gently and quickly. It’s more about what’s happening in your mind and brain during the eye movements than about the words you’re saying. Many people who didn’t make progress with other therapies find that EMDR finally helps them heal. It’s a bit like taking a different road to the same destination – one that uses the brain’s natural healing mechanisms. Another difference: EMDR also places a strong emphasis on installing positive beliefs, which not all trauma therapies do. It’s not just about reducing negative symptoms, but also about thriving and feeling empowered after trauma.
Q: Can EMDR therapy cure my PTSD or trauma completely?
A: Many people experience a complete remission of PTSD symptoms after EMDR – meaning they no longer meet the criteria for PTSD when treatment is done. In that sense, it can be a “cure” for trauma-related symptoms for a large percentage of individuals. Of course, everyone’s journey is different. Some may still have mild residual symptoms or occasional bad days, especially if the trauma was very severe or there are ongoing life stresses. EMDR doesn’t erase the fact that something bad happened, but it can take away the power that event had over you. After successful EMDR, you remember the trauma like any other past event, without feeling like you’re reliving it. You might still feel sadness about it (that’s normal), but it becomes a processed memory that doesn’t control your life. In cases of complex PTSD, “complete cure” might be a longer process involving work on multiple areas of life. EMDR can be a cornerstone of that recovery. Even if some difficulties linger, they are usually much reduced. Think of EMDR as a tool that can profoundly accelerate your healing. With it, people often achieve breakthroughs that they hadn’t in years of other therapy. So, while results vary, the outlook for most who complete EMDR therapy is very positive – many go on to live healthy, fulfilling lives, free from the constant pain of the past.
Q: How do I get started with EMDR therapy?
A: To start EMDR, seek out a licensed mental health professional who is trained in EMDR. You can look on the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) website for certified EMDR therapists in your area. When you contact a therapist, you can ask about their experience with complex trauma or childhood trauma specifically. In the first sessions, you’ll do an intake where the therapist gathers your history and explains how EMDR works, answering any questions. If you feel comfortable with the therapist and approach, you’ll work together to create a plan for treatment. Remember, you have control – you can set the pace and you can stop if you ever feel unsafe. The therapist is there to guide you and keep the process on track. Often, starting EMDR can feel hopeful because you’re actively addressing the trauma. It’s normal to be a bit nervous, but a good therapist will ensure you feel heard and empowered. If you’re in the Denver or Castle Rock, CO area, for example, our clinic (South Denver Therapy) offers EMDR and we specialize in complex trauma – we’d be happy to answer your questions or set up a consultation (we offer free 15-minute consults). No matter where you are, take that step to reach out. You deserve healing, and EMDR could be the key to finally finding it.
