No—you remain fully awake and in control throughout.

How many sessions does it take?

Single-incident trauma may improve in 3–6 sessions; complex trauma takes longer.

EMDR

🧠 Psychology By CampusDown Wiki Editorial Team Last updated October 26, 2026

EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) is a trauma therapy in which clients recall distressing memories while doing side-to-side eye movements or alternating taps. The aim is to make the memories less vivid and less upsetting.

Contents

1. Origins
2. The protocol and how it might work
3. Evidence and debate
4. FAQ
5. References

Origins

In 1987 American psychologist Francine Shapiro said she noticed, while walking in a park, that disturbing thoughts faded when her eyes darted back and forth. Her 1989 study applied the method to trauma survivors, including Vietnam veterans. She later added cognitive elements and "reprocessing" to the name. Skeptics questioned the mechanism, but randomized trials accumulated, and in 2013 the World Health Organization recommended EMDR for PTSD.

The protocol and how it might work

EMDR has eight phases: history, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. In the central desensitization phase, the client holds the traumatic image and a negative belief ("I'm powerless") in mind while tracking the therapist's fingers or a light. Over the session that belief is gradually replaced with a positive one. The best-supported explanation is the working-memory hypothesis. Recalling a memory while moving the eyes taxes limited working memory, so the memory loses vividness.

Evidence and debate

Meta-analyses find EMDR roughly as effective as trauma-focused CBT, with less homework and often fewer sessions. Some studies show similar results from exposure without eye movements. That has led critics to call EMDR a variant of exposure therapy in which the eye movements aren't essential. It is being tried for panic disorder and depression, but the evidence there is weaker than for PTSD. Choose a properly certified therapist.

FAQ

Is EMDR hypnosis?: No—you remain fully awake and in control throughout.
How many sessions does it take?: Single-incident trauma may improve in 3–6 sessions; complex trauma takes longer.

Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26

References

Shapiro, F. (1989). Efficacy of the eye movement desensitization procedure in the treatment of traumatic memories. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 2(2), 199–223.
World Health Organization. (2013). Guidelines for the management of conditions specifically related to stress.
Cuijpers, P., et al. (2020). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for mental health problems: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 49(3), 165–180.

Reports and materials that use this theory (Korean)

There are no materials dedicated to this theory yet, but you can search related reports in the CampusDown library (Korean).

Find more reports · Search 'EMDR' on CampusDown →

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This article was last updated on October 26, 2026. It is based on widely recognized original works and textbooks; when citing it in a paper, please check the original sources listed in the references.