EMDR Therapy for Trauma and PTSD: Transform Your Healing Journey
Unlocking Your Brain's Natural Healing System
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for trauma and PTSD is a powerful, evidence-based treatment that helps your brain process traumatic memories through bilateral stimulation. This specialized approach allows you to heal from distressing life experiences efficiently and effectively, often without the extensive talk therapy that traditional approaches require.
At Brain Based Counseling, we specialize in EMDR therapy for trauma and PTSD, serving Cincinnati and the greater Ohio area. Our EMDR Intensive format—delivered over 1-3 consecutive days with 4-6 hours of focused treatment each day—provides a powerful, personalized healing experience that many clients find more effective than traditional weekly sessions.
Quick Overview of EMDR Therapy for Trauma and PTSD:
What is it? How it works Effectiveness Time to Results A structured 8-phase therapy using bilateral stimulation in an intensive format Helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories that are "stuck" Recognized by World Health Organization, APA, and Veterans Affairs as effective for treating posttraumatic stress disorder Many notice significant improvement in just 3-6 sessions
When traumatic events occur, your brain sometimes can't process the experience properly. The trauma memory gets "frozen" in time—complete with the original images, emotions, physical sensations, and negative beliefs. This is why post traumatic stress disorder often feels like reliving the trauma when triggered, rather than remembering it as a past event.
EMDR therapy helps "unfreeze" these traumatic memories. The bilateral stimulation activates your brain's natural information processing system—similar to what happens during REM sleep—allowing the memory to be properly stored as a past event without the overwhelming emotional charge.
I'm Libby Murdoch, a licensed professional clinical counselor specializing in EMDR therapy. I've helped countless clients rewire their nervous systems and transform their relationship with traumatic memories through brain-based techniques at my private practice in Cincinnati.
Why This Guide Matters
If you're reading this, chances are you or someone you care about is struggling with the aftermath of trauma. You're not alone. According to national data, about 6% of the U.S. population will have posttraumatic stress disorder at some point in their lives. For women, that number is even higher—about 8%.
This guide provides clear, evidence-based information about how EMDR therapy for trauma and PTSD works and why it's considered a game-changer in trauma treatment. Whether you're in Indian Hill, Madeira, Mason, Hyde Park, Mount Lookout, Mount Adams, Terrace Park, or connecting virtually from North Carolina, understanding this powerful psychological treatment can be your first step toward healing.
I've created this resource especially for women dealing with high-functioning anxiety and trauma, including betrayal trauma, as well as first responders who face traumatic events regularly. My approach is never one-size-fits-all—each person's traumatic experiences are unique, and so is their path to healing.
EMDR Therapy: What It Is & Why It Matters
The story of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy begins with a chance discovery. In 1987, psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro was walking through a park when she noticed something peculiar—her own troubling thoughts seemed to fade when her eyes moved back and forth. This simple observation sparked what would become one of the most innovative trauma focused psychotherapy approaches in modern psychology.
At its heart, EMDR therapy for trauma and PTSD is a reprocessing therapy that addresses a fundamental issue: when we experience traumatic stress, our brains sometimes can't file away the experience properly. Instead of becoming a normal memory that fades with time, the traumatic event gets "stuck" in our nervous system—complete with all the original images, sounds, emotional memories, and physical sensations that were present during the event.
What makes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing different from traditional talk therapy is that you don't need to spend sessions discussing every painful detail or completing homework assignments between visits. Instead, the therapy uses bilateral stimulation—those side-to-side eye movements, gentle taps, or alternating tones—to activate both hemispheres of your brain while you briefly focus on the memory. This seems to jumpstart your brain's natural healing process.
Many clients describe it this way: "The upsetting memories are still there, but now they feel like they happened years ago instead of yesterday. I can think about them without feeling like I'm right back in that moment."
The Science Behind EMDR Therapy
The Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model helps us understand why traumatic stress affects us the way it does and how EMDR therapy helps heal those wounds.
Think of your brain as having a natural filing system for processing emotional memories. Normally, when something happens, your brain processes it, extracts useful information, connects it with what you already know, and stores it appropriately. But trauma can overwhelm this system—it's like trying to save a massive file when your computer doesn't have enough memory. The experience gets stuck in its raw, unprocessed form as a target memory that needs to be addressed during therapy.
Several compelling theories explain how Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing works:
Working memory theory suggests that when you recall a traumatic memory while simultaneously focusing on bilateral stimulation, your working memory becomes divided. This actually reduces the vividness and emotional intensity of the memory, making it easier for your brain to process and store it properly.
Physiological changes happen during EMDR sessions too. The bilateral stimulation appears to trigger a relaxation response that counteracts the stress activation tied to traumatic memories—similar to how your body naturally relaxes during certain sleep stages.
REM-like processing is another fascinating possibility. The eye movements in EMDR therapy may mimic what happens during REM sleep, when your brain naturally processes emotional memories. This might explain why many clients report that after EMDR, their traumatic memories feel more like ordinary memories—still there, but without the overwhelming subjective distress.
A comprehensive systematic review examining 87 studies found strong support for these working memory and physiological change theories, helping explain why Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing produces such powerful treatment effects.
Global Recognition
Today, EMDR therapy stands as a globally recognized treatment for trauma and PTSD. The World Health Organization highlighted EMDR in its 2013 treatment guidelines as one of only two psychological therapies recommended for treating posttraumatic stress disorder in people of all ages. The American Psychological Association, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense have all recognized EMDR therapy as an effective PTSD treatment based on extensive scientific research including numerous randomized controlled trials.
What's particularly exciting is how EMDR's applications have expanded beyond just PTSD. While it remains a gold-standard treatment to treat PTSD, therapists now successfully use adapted EMDR protocol to address anxiety disorders, depression, phobias, chronic pain, and other conditions where distressing memories play a role.
As a specialist in EMDR therapy for trauma and PTSD, I've seen how this approach can create profound healing—often more quickly and with less between-session distress than traditional talk therapies. By working directly with the brain's natural healing system rather than just talking about problems, EMDR therapy offers a path to freedom from the grip of traumatic memories.
Step-By-Step: Inside an EMDR Session
When you begin EMDR therapy for trauma and PTSD, you're starting on a journey that follows a clear path to healing through eight phases of treatment. I've guided many clients through this process, and while everyone's experience is unique, the structure provides a reassuring framework for our work together.
Phase 1: History Taking and Treatment Planning
We start by understanding your story. This isn't about reliving every painful detail, but rather understanding the landscape of your experiences and how they're affecting you now. During our initial consultation, I'll ask thoughtful questions about your past traumatic experiences, current challenges, and what you hope to achieve. This conversation helps me create a roadmap for your healing that's as unique as you are.
Phase 2: Preparation
Before we dive into processing trauma, I'll teach you practical self-regulation skills—think of them as emotional safety tools. These might include guided breathing exercises, grounding techniques, or creating a mental "safe place" you can return to whenever needed. Many clients describe this phase as "finally getting a user manual for my nervous system." These skills aren't just useful during our sessions; they become lifelong tools for emotional wellbeing.
Phase 3: Assessment
Here, we identify specific memories to work on and the negative beliefs attached to them. For example, a car accident survivor might hold the belief "I'm never safe" or "It was my fault." We'll also identify positive cognition you'd like to hold instead, such as "I am safe now" or "I did the best I could."
We measure these using two simple scales:
The SUD scale (Subjective Units of Disturbance) rates your distress from 0-10
The VOC scale (Validity of Cognition) measures how true the positive belief feels to you, from 1-7
This baseline helps us track your progress throughout EMDR treatment.
Phase 4: Desensitization
This is where the bilateral stimulation happens. While briefly focusing on the trauma memory, you'll follow my finger movements with your eyes, or we might use alternating tones or taps. Each set of eye movements lasts about 30-60 seconds, followed by a brief check-in where I'll simply ask, "What are you noticing now?"
What happens during this phase can feel almost magical. Many clients describe it as their brain finally having permission to make connections it couldn't before. The memory doesn't disappear, but its emotional grip loosens with each set of bilateral stimulation.
Phase 5: Installation
Once the distress level has decreased significantly, we'll strengthen the connection to your positive belief using additional eye movements. This isn't about forcing positive thinking—it's about helping your brain recognize a new truth that was previously blocked by trauma. Many clients describe this phase as deeply affirming, like finally being able to believe something they've always known intellectually but couldn't feel emotionally.
Phase 6: Body Scan
Trauma isn't just stored in our thoughts—it lives in our bodies too. In this phase, the patient focuses on bringing the memory to mind one more time and notices if there's any physical tension or discomfort remaining. If there is, we'll target those physical sensations with additional bilateral stimulation. This body-focused approach is part of what makes EMDR therapy for trauma and PTSD so comprehensive and effective.
Phase 7: Closure
I never end an EMDR session leaving you in an emotionally raw state. Each session concludes with grounding exercises to ensure you feel stable and present before you leave. I'll also prepare you for what might come up between sessions—sometimes processing continues after you leave my office, and that's completely normal. You'll have concrete strategies for managing any emotions that arise.
Phase 8: Reevaluation
At the beginning of each subsequent session in your treatment, we'll check in on your progress. Has the memory we worked on shifted? Have new aspects emerged? This ongoing assessment helps us make sure we're addressing all parts of the traumatic experience and guides our next steps.
The EMDR Intensive Experience
A typical EMDR Intensive at Brain Based Counseling involves 1-3 consecutive days of treatment, with each day consisting of 4-6 hours of therapy. This immersive format creates several unique advantages:
Momentum builds naturally without the week-long gaps between traditional sessions
Processing can go deeper because we have more time in each day
Travel commitments are minimized (especially valuable for those coming from surrounding areas like Indian Hill, Madeira, or Mason)
Results often come more quickly, allowing you to return to your life with new resources sooner
What makes my approach at Brain Based Counseling distinctive is how I integrate EMDR therapy with other brain and body-based techniques. This comprehensive approach recognizes that trauma affects every part of you—not just your thoughts, but your nervous system, your body, and even your sense of self. By addressing all these dimensions, we create deeper, more lasting healing.
How Long Does Treatment Take?
One of the most remarkable aspects of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is its efficiency. While traditional approaches to trauma treatment can take years, EMDR therapy often produces significant results in reducing PTSD symptoms much more quickly.
For single-incident traumas—like a car accident or sexual assault—many clients experience substantial relief in just 3-6 sessions. More complex traumas or multiple traumatic events typically require 8-12 sessions. And for those with extensive trauma histories or adult posttraumatic stress disorder, the timeline may be longer, but still often shorter than traditional therapy approaches.
The EMDR intensive format I offer compresses multiple sessions into 1-3 days, creating a deeply immersive healing experience. Many clients find that this format allows for more efficient processing because we can maintain momentum without the week-long gaps between sessions.
The research backs up what I've seen in my practice: multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses have found that EMDR therapy significantly reduces symptoms with moderate to large effect sizes, not just for PTSD symptoms but also for associated depression and anxiety.
What's most rewarding is hearing clients say things like: "I've been in therapy for years talking about this trauma, but in just a few EMDR sessions, I actually feel different. The memory is still there, but it doesn't control me anymore."
This isn't just about feeling better faster—it's about creating deep, lasting change that allows you to reclaim your life from trauma's grip.
The Evidence: Research and Guidelines
The evidence supporting Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is both substantial and compelling. As someone who's witnessed its transformative effects with clients, I'm always encouraged to see the research continue to validate what I observe in my clinical practice.
When potential clients are understandably skeptical about EMDR's seemingly simple approach, I often share some of the impressive research findings:
Multiple randomized controlled trials have found that EMDR therapy is significantly more effective than other approaches in reducing PTSD symptoms, with strong treatment effects observed. It's particularly helpful for addressing those intrusive thoughts and memories and reducing that constant state of hyperarousal that makes trauma so debilitating.
A randomized controlled trial comparing EMDR to waitlist controls showed that people who were waiting for treatment were 24 times more likely to still meet the criteria for PTSD diagnosis compared to those who received EMDR therapy. And this wasn't just a temporary fix—the effect was still strong at the one-month follow-up.
Several randomized clinical trials have demonstrated EMDR therapy's effectiveness in treating trauma and PTSD across different populations, including combat veterans, survivors of natural disasters, and individuals with acute stress disorder.
What's also remarkable about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is how well people tolerate it. The dropout rates are impressively low, even when compared to other evidence-based treatments like Prolonged Exposure therapy. This matters because a therapy can only work if people can actually complete it.
Global Endorsements
It's not just individual studies that support EMDR—major health organizations worldwide have recognized its effectiveness for effectively treating PTSD:
The World Health Organization included EMDR in their treatment guidelines as one of only two psychological therapies they recommend for both children and adults with posttraumatic stress disorder.
The American Psychological Association has issued a conditional recommendation for EMDR as a PTSD treatment.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense include it among their most effective treatments for PTSD in their clinical practice guidelines.
The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies highly recommends EMDR for children and adolescents with PTSD.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recognizes it as an evidence-based practice not just for PTSD, but also for anxiety disorders and depression.
These aren't just casual endorsements—they reflect rigorous evaluation of the scientific research supporting EMDR's effectiveness.
Benefits and Who It's For
When it comes to healing from trauma, EMDR therapy for trauma and PTSD offers some truly remarkable benefits that have made it a game-changer for many clients. What makes this approach special isn't just that it works—it's how it works, often bringing relief in ways that feel more manageable and sustainable than other approaches.
Key Benefits:
Efficiency: Many clients express surprise at how quickly they notice changes—sometimes after just a few EMDR sessions.
Less detailed verbal recounting required: Unlike some trauma therapies that require detailed verbal accounts of painful experiences, EMDR doesn't demand that you repeatedly recount your trauma.
Ripple effect of healing: Beyond addressing the primary PTSD symptoms, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing often creates improvements in relationships, self-confidence, and overall mental health.
Minimal homework: While I might suggest some simple grounding practices between sessions, you won't be asked to complete extensive worksheets or exposure exercises on your own.
Lasting changes: Rather than simply teaching you to manage symptoms, EMDR appears to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories at their source, which is one of the basic principles that makes it so effective.
Ideal Candidates for EMDR Therapy
While Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing has shown effectiveness across many different groups, I've found it particularly helpful for several specific populations:
Women navigating anxiety and trauma are my specialty at Brain Based Counseling. EMDR can be remarkably effective for addressing the complex emotions and limiting beliefs that arise from experiences like betrayal trauma. Many high-functioning women find that EMDR helps them process painful experiences without derailing their busy lives.
First responders face unique challenges with repeated exposure to traumatic events. EMDR's efficiency makes it particularly valuable for these individuals, as it can help process traumatic experiences before they build up and become overwhelming.
At Brain Based Counseling, I've created a warm, supportive environment where we can explore whether EMDR therapy might be right for your unique situation. While I've highlighted some populations that often respond well, every person's journey is different, and I'm committed to finding the approach that works best for you.
Frequently Asked Questions about EMDR Therapy for Trauma and PTSD
How quickly will I notice results?
One of the most common questions I hear from new clients is about timing. The good news? Many people experience noticeable relief sooner than they expect with EMDR therapy.
For single-incident trauma (like a car accident or assault), research shows significant improvement often occurs within just 3-6 sessions. In fact, one striking study found that 84-90% of single-trauma survivors no longer met the criteria for PTSD diagnosis after only three 90-minute sessions. That's remarkably fast compared to traditional approaches!
That said, everyone's healing journey unfolds at its own pace. The timeline can vary based on several factors:
Your trauma history (single incident versus multiple or complex trauma), your current support system, ongoing life stressors, and your nervous system's unique response to treatment all play a role in how quickly you'll see changes.
What I've noticed in my practice is that even when complete resolution takes longer, most clients report feeling some meaningful shift early in the process—perhaps noticing they're less triggered by certain reminders or feeling more present in their daily lives.
Can EMDR be done virtually?
Absolutely yes! Virtual EMDR sessions have proven to be remarkably effective. Recent systematic reviews of telehealth adaptations confirmed that online delivery produces similar symptom relief to in-person treatment.
I offer virtual EMDR therapy to clients throughout Ohio and North Carolina. For these sessions, we adapt the bilateral stimulation component in creative ways:
You might use self-administered tapping (I'll guide you through the rhythm and placement), listen to alternating tones through headphones, or follow visual cues through specialized online tools designed specifically for virtual EMDR.
Many clients actually prefer the virtual format—they appreciate being in the comfort of their own space, eliminating travel time, and having their familiar self-soothing objects nearby.
That said, some people do better with in-person sessions, particularly for certain types of trauma. During our initial consultation, we can discuss which option might be the better fit for your specific situation and preferences.
What if I don't recall every detail of the trauma?
This worry comes up frequently, and I want to reassure you: EMDR therapy can still be remarkably effective even without complete memories of the traumatic event.
Here's why: Trauma doesn't just live in your narrative memory (the story of what happened). It's also stored in your emotional memories and physical body—in those implicit memories that show up as feelings, physical sensations, and negative beliefs about yourself or the world.
When we work together, we can focus on whatever parts of the experience are accessible to you—perhaps a feeling in your chest, a fragment of an image, or simply the distressing symptoms you experience in the present. Your brain is remarkably wise and can process traumatic material even when you don't have conscious recall of all the details.
One of the beautiful things about EMDR is that it doesn't require you to verbally recount your trauma in excruciating detail. You just need to briefly notice whatever aspects of the memory are available while engaging in the bilateral stimulation. Your brain does the rest.
Your healing isn't limited by gaps in your memory. Your body and brain know what needs processing, and together we'll create the conditions that allow that natural healing to occur.
Transform Your Healing Journey
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy for trauma and PTSD offers a remarkable path to healing that works with your brain's natural abilities. I've seen how this approach can transform lives, helping people move beyond traumatic experiences toward lasting peace and resilience.
When trauma gets stuck in our nervous system, it can feel like we're carrying a heavy burden everywhere we go. That weight affects relationships, work, sleep, and our ability to feel joy. The beauty of EMDR is that it doesn't just manage these symptoms—it helps resolve the root cause by allowing your brain to process what happened in a new, healthier way.
As a solo practitioner at Brain Based Counseling, I've dedicated my practice to providing specialized care for women struggling with high-functioning anxiety and trauma, including the complex pain of betrayal trauma. I also work extensively with first responders who carry the weight of traumatic experiences encountered in the line of duty.
What makes my approach unique is the integration of EMDR with complementary brain and body-based techniques. This comprehensive method addresses trauma not just in your thoughts but in how your entire nervous system responds to stress and triggers. The result is deeper, more complete healing that stands the test of time.
Whether you're in Cincinnati or nearby communities like Indian Hill, Madeira, Mason, Hyde Park, Mount Lookout, Mount Adams, or Terrace Park—or even if you're located elsewhere in Ohio or North Carolina—I offer both in-person and virtual options to meet your needs.
I believe that healing is deeply personal. Your experiences, your triggers, your nervous system—they're uniquely yours, which is why I never take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, I tailor treatment to your specific needs, working collaboratively with you every step of the way.
Trauma may have impacted your past and present, but it doesn't have to determine your future. With the right approach, healing is not only possible but often more accessible than many of my clients initially believed.
If you're ready to explore whether EMDR therapy for trauma and PTSD might be right for you, I invite you to reach out to learn more about my approach. Your journey toward a calmer mind, a more regulated nervous system, and a life less defined by past trauma can begin today.
Your brain has an incredible capacity to heal—sometimes it just needs the right kind of support to activate that natural ability. I'd be honored to provide that support as you move toward the peace and freedom you deserve.
Contact Brain Based Counseling today to learn more about EMDR therapy options and scheduling.