EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a popular therapy used to treat trauma around the world. The therapy was first introduced in 1987 and has since gained popularity due to its effectiveness. EMDR therapy has been researched extensively and is backed by scientific evidence. The idea behind the therapy is to help an individual process distressing memories that have become stuck, that are causing emotional pain or negative beliefs that affect their lives.

The EMDR therapy process involves an eight-phase process that is completed by an EMDR therapist. In the first phase, the therapist will assess the client's history and develop a treatment plan. The therapist then moves to the second phase, which requires the individual to focus on a specific traumatic event, the feeling it brings, negative beliefs about oneself, and body sensation around the event. EMDR processing follows in the third phase, where the therapist guides the patient through bilateral stimulation using eye movement, tapping, or auditory stimulation, and recognizes new changes in emotions, sensations, and thoughts.

The therapist then moves to phase four to assess change, and if more processing is required, the therapy will go through further phases. The fifth phase is Desensitization, where negative beliefs are replaced with more favorable beliefs. The therapist, with the client, works to develop a list of positive beliefs that will serve as a replacement for the former negative beliefs. The client will then focus on the positive belief while reprocessing the traumatic event. In phase six, the therapist will wrap up everything to help the client feel more reinforced with the chosen positive belief. In the seventh phase, the therapist will re-evaluate the therapy's effectiveness before the client's previous traumas, insights, and changes are processed further. Finally, in the eighth phase, the therapist and the client review all that has been learned during the sessions for future growth.