EMDR starts from a simple observation: some memories are not processed by the brain in the usual way. They remain stuck, continuing to trigger emotions, sensations, and negative beliefs as if the event were still happening.
Through bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, sounds, or alternating taps, the method activates natural reprocessing mechanisms, helping the memory be stored in a more adaptive way.
The memory is not erased; it stops hurting in the same way. What once carried intense distress can be accessed with more distance and less reactivity.
People often report relief, reduced anxiety, and the sense of finally turning the page on something that had felt stuck for a long time.
How it happens in practice
A structured process, conducted step by step.
EMDR may help when there are
EMDR can also be used online when conducted by a trained professional, with the same structure of safety and confidentiality as in-person sessions.
When memories keep blocking the present
Clinical evidence supports EMDR for a range of conditions. In adult practice I see good results with people navigating:
PTSD and acute trauma
Accidents, violence, robbery, sudden loss, miscarriages, serious illness.
Complex trauma
Difficult childhoods, repeated abuse, neglect, captivity.
Anxiety and panic
When the body triggers responses without real present danger.
Complicated grief
Losses that stay stuck and affect daily life for months.
Specific phobias
Driving, blood, needles, heights, animals, public speaking.
Performance blocks
Athletes, artists and professionals who freeze in high-stakes moments.
Eight phases and the adaptive memory model
EMDR is a structured eight-phase protocol: history, preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure and re-evaluation. The protocol organizes the session, but the work is wider than a checklist.
The underlying theory is the Adaptive Information Processing Model (AIP): emotionally loaded memories stay stored in maladaptive form, in sensory and affective patterns, without integrated narrative. EMDR reaccesses this material and lets it move towards functional processing.
Bilateral stimulation — visual, auditory or tactile — sustains this process, keeping the nervous system engaged while the material reorganizes.
There is an extensive controlled research base, with official recognition from the APA, WHO, and the Brazilian CFP. NICE includes EMDR as a first-line treatment for PTSD in the UK.
Training is regulated: therapists complete basic training and supervised updates. The Brazilian EMDR Association (emdr.org.br) keeps the list of certified professionals.
In-person and online work
Landing and safety
We build a regulation base before touching memory. We test the stop signal and tune the window of tolerance.
Target mapping
We identify the specific memory, image, emotion, negative belief and desired belief.
Reprocessing
We start bilateral stimulation. Content reorganizes while the nervous system responds.
Integration and closure
We install the positive belief, do the body scan, and guide post-session self-care.
EMDR, sessions and process
Does EMDR work online?
Yes. The protocol is validated for remote sessions using on-screen and/or app-based bilateral stimulation. Outcomes are close to in-person sessions.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends. Focal situations often improve in 6-12 sessions. Complex trauma may require 12-24 sessions. The first conversation assesses the case and gives an estimate.
Is EMDR scientifically recognized?
Yes. It is cited by the APA and WHO, and recommended as a first-line treatment for PTSD by NICE. The Brazilian EMDR Association regulates training.
Is EMDR hypnosis?
No. The client stays awake and informed throughout the session. Unlike hypnosis, you maintain full consciousness and dialogue.
Will I relive the trauma?
Not in a dramatic way. The protocol accesses the material and lets you revisit it without re-experiencing it intensely. We always respect your window of tolerance.
Does EMDR replace medication?
It may reduce the need in selected cases, but it does not replace psychiatric medication without coordination with the prescribing psychiatrist.
Can I combine EMDR with Brainspotting?
Yes. In many cases I combine both methods, choosing the tool that fits each moment of the work.
How much does it cost?
Fees and payment options are on the contact page.