What to Expect in EMDR Therapy
Your Questions, Answered Step by Step
What to Expect in
EMDR Therapy
Starting EMDR therapy can feel like a big step, especially if you have never tried it before. This page walks you through what EMDR actually looks like at Davis-Smith Mental Health in New Lenox, IL, from your first phone call to your last session, so nothing about the process feels like a mystery.
EMDR, which stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, helps your brain reprocess painful memories and experiences that keep anxiety or distress stuck in place. We offer it to teens, young adults, and adults at our New Lenox office, and we serve clients from Joliet, Frankfort, Mokena, Lockport, and across Will County.
EMDR is recommended by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the World Health Organization as a treatment for trauma, and many people also use it for anxiety and painful memories that talk therapy alone has not resolved.
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”
– Carl Rogers
Signs EMDR Might Be a Good Fit
EMDR can help with many things, but it tends to be especially helpful when something from the past is still showing up in the present. It may be a good fit if you notice:
Memories That Still Sting
A memory that still brings up strong emotions, even if it happened years ago.
Reactions Bigger Than the Moment
Feeling flooded with fear, anger, or shame in situations that seem small to everyone else.
Avoiding Reminders
Steering clear of people, places, or conversations that remind you of something painful.
Negative Beliefs About Yourself
Thoughts like “I’m not safe,” “I’m not enough,” or “it was my fault” that feel true no matter what you know.
Anxiety With a Root
Worry or panic that seems connected to something that happened, not just everyday stress.
Restless Nights
Nightmares, racing thoughts at night, or waking up already on edge.
Feeling Stuck in Talk Therapy
Understanding your story in your head but still feeling it in your body.
Strong Body Reactions
A racing heart, tight chest, or knot in your stomach when certain memories come up.
Wanting Relief Without Retelling
Wanting to heal without having to describe every painful detail out loud.
You Will Never Be Rushed
Many people worry that EMDR means diving straight into their hardest memories. It does not. Your therapist spends time getting to know you and making sure you feel steady before any memory work begins, and you can pause whenever you need to.
If you are unsure whether EMDR is right for you, that is a great first conversation to have with us. We will talk through what you are hoping for and recommend the approach that fits best.
The 8 Phases of EMDR
What Happens During EMDR Therapy
EMDR follows a structured, eight-phase process. You will not notice every phase as a separate step, but here is what is happening along the way:
History and Planning
Your therapist learns about your story and the memories or patterns you want to work on.
Preparation
You learn calming skills, like a safe place exercise, so you feel grounded before reprocessing begins.
Assessment
You choose a target memory and notice the image, belief, feelings, and body sensations tied to it.
Desensitization
While you briefly hold the memory in mind, your therapist guides short sets of eye movements, tapping, or tones.
Installation
A healthier belief, like “I am safe now,” is strengthened until it feels true.
Body Scan
You check for any leftover tension in your body and work through it together.
Closure
Every session ends with grounding, so you leave feeling settled.
Reevaluation
At your next visit, you and your therapist check what has shifted and decide what comes next.
What a Typical EMDR Session Feels Like
Sessions usually run about the length of a regular counseling session. You sit comfortably while your therapist guides you through short rounds of side-to-side eye movements, gentle tapping, or tones. Between rounds, you simply notice what comes up and share as much or as little as you want. Many people describe the experience as calmer and less draining than they expected.
After Your Session
It is normal to feel tired or reflective after reprocessing, and some people notice new thoughts or dreams in the days that follow. That is a sign your brain is still doing the work.
Your therapist will give you tools to use between sessions, and you can always reach out if something feels like too much.
Steady, Supported, and Never Rushed
Our Approach to EMDR Therapy
At Davis-Smith Mental Health, we believe EMDR works best when you feel safe with your therapist. We take time to build trust, explain every step before it happens, and check in with you throughout each session.
Our EMDR-trained therapist works with teens, young adults, and adults, and often combines EMDR with skills from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Learn more about EMDR for anxiety and EMDR for trauma.
Our goal is for you to leave EMDR with memories that no longer control you and beliefs about yourself that finally feel true.
We proudly serve clients in New Lenox, Joliet, Frankfort, Mokena, Lockport, and the surrounding communities. Learn what to expect when you first reach out.
