EMDR (not EDM) Therapy

Written By Laniece Schleicher

Welcome to the Blog (and No, This Isn't About EDM)

Hi, and welcome to my very first blog post! I figured I'd kick things off with something I get asked about a lot — and something that, admittedly, has a bit of a branding problem.

Say "EMDR" out loud to someone for the first time and watch their face. Half the time I get a hopeful "ooh, like the music?" No, friends — no glow sticks, no bass drops…while I am a musician, I am not a covert DJ (yet:). EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and while it does involve movement, I promise it's a much gentler beat.

What EMDR Actually Stands For

EMDR is a structured therapeutic approach originally developed to help people process traumatic memories that feel "stuck" — memories that still carry a strong emotional or physical charge, even years later.

Why Memories Get Stuck

When something overwhelming happens, our brains don't always process it the way they process everyday experiences. Instead of becoming a memory that feels like it belongs in the past, it can stay stored in a raw, unprocessed way — so a smell, a sound, or a situation that resembles the original event can bring back the same fear, shame, or panic as if it were happening now.

This is often what's behind symptoms like flashbacks, being easily triggered, feeling "on edge" for no clear reason, or having a strong reaction that feels bigger than the situation calls for.

How EMDR Works

During EMDR, a trained therapist, such as myself, guides you through recalling a distressing memory in small, manageable pieces, while using a specific kind of bilateral stimulation — often guided eye movements, though tapping or sounds can also be used. This back-and-forth stimulation appears to help the brain reprocess the memory, similar to what happens naturally during REM sleep.

Over time and with repetition, the memory typically loses its emotional intensity. People often describe it as still remembering what happened, but no longer feeling like it's happening to them right now.

What a Session Might Feel Like

EMDR sessions usually begin with building safety and coping tools before any processing work begins — this isn't something a therapist would rush you into. In my work with clients, after the relationship has been established, we start with installing resources to use in future reprocessing sessions. From there, sessions can bring up strong emotions, but they're guided and paced by you and your therapist together, never something you go through alone.

Who EMDR Can Help

EMDR was originally studied for PTSD, but it's now used for a wide range of experiences, including:

  • Single-incident trauma (accidents, medical trauma, loss)

  • Complex or childhood trauma

  • Anxiety and panic

  • Grief

  • Difficult life transitions

Is EMDR Right for You?

Only a conversation with a trained therapist can really answer that — everyone's history and needs are different. But if certain memories or reactions still feel too big, too close, or hard to explain, EMDR is worth exploring as an option.

If you're curious whether EMDR could be a fit for what you're working through, I'd be glad to talk it through with you. Reach out here to schedule a consultation.

(And if you were hoping for EDM, I’m certain you can find an excellent playlist on your favorite streaming platform:)

Laniece Schleicher