EMDR works by using bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements) to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories, allowing them to move from being stored as raw, emotional experiences in the amygdala to becoming integrated, contextual memories in the prefrontal cortex.

Let's break that down. EMDR works directly with memories, whether conscious or not, that are trapped in the amygdala. The amygdala is the unconscious part of our brain that remembers fear and terror, and employs our autonomic nervous system to engage in the fight, flight, freeze response. The amygdala is fully formed in utero and is constantly assessing our environment for threats, which could range from seeing an assailant with a weapon, or feeling excluded from a group.

Because there is no language in the amygdala, people are unaware of how their present-day symptoms are rooted in this part of the brain. This usually takes the form of denying the existence of an overwhelming or traumatic experience, minimizing the impact of such an experience, or justifying why it was okay that whatever happened happened. Language and cognitive processing are unable to reach this part of the brain; instead, we work with physical sensations in the body.

With the use of bilateral stimulation, memories stuck in the amygdala jolt loose and work their way upward toward the hippocampus. The hippocampus provides context and a time stamp. Take for instance the veteran who ducks for cover during Fourth of July fireworks. Their amygdala has held onto the sound of a soul-piercing boom and has associated it with gunfire. Despite knowing in their consciousness that they're no longer in combat, the survival part of the brain never got the memo. Should this information be processed by the hippocampus, then the whole brain will feel safe with what once was a threatening sound.

This process also holds true in cases of subtle experiences of overwhelm, such as letting go of resentments, overcoming people-pleasing, or eliminating intrusive thoughts at bedtime.As the bilateral stimulation continues, the once distressing body memory will become adaptively stored in the prefrontal cortex. This part of our brain is responsible for conscious thought processes, perspective taking, future orientation, sound decision making, emotional regulation, and analysis.

EMDR overrides the impulse of the prefrontal cortex to deny, minimize, or justify an imbalance in the nervous system and facilitates integration between the unconscious and the conscious.In this method, we are operating counter to traditional cognitive therapy approaches, which attempt to use the prefrontal cortex to reconcile what's stored in the amygdala. Instead, the dissociative barrier that exists between these parts of our brains is bypassed by utilizing our natural "bottom-up" processing mechanisms.Think of a time where you were embarrassed by something to the point it made your whole body have a physical reaction.

EMDR desensitizes, meaning the physical reaction would neutralize so that when you think about that embarrassing moment, you no longer experience the uncomfortable physical sensation. It also reprocesses. If you previously thought about yourself "I am shameful" when imagining that moment, after an EMDR session you would believe something more positive, such as, "I am okay the way I am." These affirmations don't feel coerced; instead, they feel true to 100% of the self. EMDR can accomplish in one session what years of traditional talk therapy aims to achieve.