What is EMDR? The Trauma Response Cycle and Trauma Informed Care with Dr. Lisa Goldfarb (On-Demand)-Slides

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EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is an evidence-based psychotherapy developed by Francine Shapiro for trauma and PTSD. The central idea is that traumatic experiences can become “stuck” in the brain and body in a raw, unprocessed form, so present-day reminders trigger intense emotional and physical reactions as if the event is happening again.<br /><br />The presentation explains trauma as a nervous system response, not just the event itself. When someone is overwhelmed, survival responses like fight, flight, freeze, or fawn can take over automatically. If the trauma is not processed, the cycle can repeat through triggers, shame, avoidance, and re-triggering.<br /><br />EMDR uses a structured 8-phase protocol. After preparation and identifying a target memory, the therapist applies bilateral stimulation — such as side-to-side eye movements, tapping, or alternating sounds — while the client focuses on the memory. This is thought to help the brain reprocess the memory, reducing its emotional intensity and linking it to more adaptive beliefs, such as “I survived” instead of “I’m in danger.”<br /><br />EMDR also includes resource-building, body scanning, closure, and reevaluation to support safety and integration. It is recognized by major organizations like the WHO, APA, VA/DoD, and NICE as a first-line treatment for PTSD, and it is also used for complex trauma, anxiety, grief, chronic pain, and some performance issues.<br /><br />The speaker emphasizes that EMDR is powerful but works best as part of skilled psychotherapy and should be used when the person has enough stability and safety for processing.

Keywords

EMDR

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

trauma therapy

PTSD treatment

bilateral stimulation

trauma processing

nervous system response

8-phase protocol

Francine Shapiro

evidence-based psychotherapy

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