Trauma is psychologically distressing information that has been encoded into the nervous system. Typically, at the root of trauma is a negative belief regarding safety or identity. The brain is adaptive, creating a new protective response to perceived danger. Problematically, people struggle to outgrow these responses naturally. Have you heard the saying “time heals all wounds”? Well, we know this is not always the case. Here is why: Logically, we may know that we are safe now and capable of coping, but emotionally, our nervous systems still send us into self-preservation mode. We call this “cognitive dissonance,” or the lapse between what we know is true and what we feel. Trauma freezes moments, and our belief system adapts automatically. Fortunately, it is possible to unfreeze this. What do I mean by this? Let me provide another metaphor. Trauma carves trails of understanding/coping into our brains. These trails feel the most secure and become well-worn over time. The problem is they are not the most efficient and up-to-date with the landscape around us. Our job is to carve new adaptive trails to become “unstuck.” The brain is impressive in neuroplasticity (ability to change), and research shows we can carve new neural pathways into the brain. We can accomplish this process through EMDR.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. To become unstuck, we have to revisit trauma. This has to be done carefully, as the goal of EMDR is not to relive the traumatic incidents but rather to update the brain by revisiting these incidents and encoding new information. A new message could be, “I’m okay now; I can cope.” EMDR accomplishes this by using bilateral stimulation (stimulation of both sides of the brain). The process mimics REM sleep in this way. By accessing both sides of the brain, a delicate balance is struck between experiencing the memories and staying grounded in the present. EMDR desensitizes the distressing incident/negative belief and installs a positive belief in its place. Another benefit of EMDR is that you do not have to share every detail with your therapist to be effective since it is an experiential therapy. Empowerment can come from realizing that you are capable of addressing trauma, knowing your therapist is right there with you, and you are capable of finding a new way forward. 



By Hannah Tomlinson

Shapiro, F. (2017). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, third edition : Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures.