Incorrect info about EMDR
In an era of instant headlines, viral reels, and algorithm-driven content, the responsibility to share ethical and well-sourced research has never been more critical. As clinicians, educators, journalists, and content creators, we are not simply distributing information—we are shaping perception, influencing behavior, and, in many cases, impacting public health and safety.
When research is shared responsibly, it can empower, educate, and protect. When it is not, the consequences can be profound. In this episode of Mind Mingle, Lenore and Melissa explore the misinformation about EMDR that was shared on a Huberman Lab podcast. The podcast inaccurately informed the public about EMDR. So here are a few important things to know if you are considering EMDR as your treatment method.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based psychotherapy approach designed to help people process and heal from distressing or traumatic experiences. It was developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and is now recognized as an effective treatment for trauma by organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organization.
Originally developed to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), EMDR is now also used for:
Childhood trauma
Anxiety and panic
Phobias
Grief and loss
Performance blocks
Disturbing memories
Negative self-beliefs
Attachment wounds
How Trauma Impacts the Brain
When something overwhelming happens, the brain’s natural processing system can become disrupted. Instead of fully processing the experience, the memory can become “stuck” in the nervous system. This means that the body may react as if the event is still happening. These triggers can cause intense emotional or physical responses. This promotes negative beliefs about the self may form (e.g., “I’m not safe,” “I’m not enough,” “It was my fault.”) EMDR helps the brain reprocess these stuck memories so they are stored in a more adaptive, less distressing way.
How EMDR Works
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or alternating sounds) while a person briefly focuses on aspects of a distressing memory. This dual attention is important because it engages both hemispheres of the brain, helps the nervous system metabolize unresolved experiences, allows new, adaptive information to integrate. Many researchers believe bilateral stimulation mimics processes similar to what happens during REM sleep—when the brain naturally processes emotional experiences. Importantly, EMDR does not erase memories. Instead, it reduces the emotional intensity attached to them. It has 8 phases to the treatment and done in a safe and structured way to assist in navigating traumatic memories and beliefs.
The Goal of EMDR
The goal is not to forget your story.
The goal is:
To reduce emotional reactivity
To strengthen adaptive beliefs
To calm the nervous system
To allow your past to feel like it’s in the past
Healing does not mean the memory disappears. It means it no longer overwhelms you.
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