EMDR in Burr Ridge

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured, evidence-based therapy designed to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences. It is especially effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but is also used to address anxiety, depression, grief, and other mental health challenges linked to unresolved trauma.

EMDR is different from traditional talk therapy. It helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they are no longer emotionally overwhelming, and allows healing to occur without having to relive the trauma in detail.

What Is EMDR Therapy?

After a traumatic or highly stressful experience, the brain may struggle to fully process what happened. As a result, the memory of the event can get “stuck,” leading to ongoing symptoms like flashbacks, anxiety, nightmares, or a heightened sense of danger even long after the trauma has passed. EMDR helps the brain finish what it couldn’t at the time of the trauma—process the memory more healthily so it no longer feels as disturbing or intrusive.

How EMDR Works

EMDR therapy is usually delivered in 8 structured phases over multiple sessions with a trained therapist. Key parts of the process include:

• History-taking and treatment planning: The therapist learns about your history and helps identify target memories or themes.
• Preparation: You’ll learn grounding and coping strategies to manage distress.
• Assessment: Specific memories are identified, and the associated emotions, thoughts, and body sensations are explored.
• Desensitization and reprocessing: The therapist guides you in recalling distressing memories while using bilateral stimulation—usually eye movements, tapping, or sounds moving from side to side. This helps the brain reprocess the memory and reduce its emotional charge.
• Installation of positive beliefs: New, more balanced beliefs are reinforced (e.g., replacing “I’m powerless” with “I survived, and I’m strong”).

You don’t need to talk in great detail about the trauma for EMDR to work. The focus is on how the memory is stored in your brain, not just what happened.

What Does EMDR Help With?

EMDR was originally developed to treat PTSD, but it’s now used to support healing from a range of challenges, including:

• Sexual or physical assault
• Childhood abuse or neglect
• Accidents and medical trauma
• Combat trauma
• Grief and loss
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Phobias
• Low self-worth related to past experiences

Is EMDR Effective?

Yes, numerous clinical studies have shown EMDR to be highly effective for treating trauma and PTSD. In many cases, people experience significant relief in fewer sessions than traditional talk therapy.

It is endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), American Psychological Association (APA), and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a first-line treatment for trauma.

What to Expect

EMDR can be emotionally intense at times, especially when working through difficult memories. But your therapist will go at a pace that feels safe for you and will equip you with tools to manage any discomfort. Over time, most people report feeling lighter, calmer, and more in control of their thoughts and emotions.

You Can Heal From Trauma

If you’re living with the emotional weight of past experiences, you’re not alone, and you’re not broken. EMDR offers a powerful, research-backed path to healing that taps into your brain’s natural ability to recover.

To find out if EMDR therapy is right for you, consider speaking with a licensed mental health provider trained in EMDR. For more information, please contact our main office.