EMDR process

The 8 phases of EMDR therapy.

EMDR is a structured therapy. The eight phases help make sure therapy begins with safety and preparation, moves carefully into processing, and returns to stability before each session ends.

A structured path through therapy

EMDR is more than eye movements or bilateral stimulation. It usually includes history and treatment planning, preparation, assessment, desensitisation, installation, body scan, closure, and re-evaluation.

The first phases help the therapist understand what support is needed and help the client build resources for staying grounded. Processing phases focus on the memory, the body, emotions, and beliefs, while later phases check that the work feels complete and that the person can leave the session settled.

Read EMDRIA's article on the eight phases

History and treatment planning

The therapist and client begin by understanding what brings the person to therapy, what symptoms or concerns are present, and what kinds of memories or experiences may need attention. This phase also includes looking at strengths, supports, culture, current safety, and internal and external resources.

Preparation

The therapist explains how EMDR works, answers questions, and helps the client practise ways to stay grounded. Some people move through this phase quickly; others need more time to feel ready. Preparation is part of good EMDR, not a delay.

Assessment

The therapist and client identify the target memory or experience for reprocessing. They also notice the image, negative belief, preferred positive belief, emotions, body sensations, and baseline levels of distress and believability.

Desensitisation

The client briefly focuses on the target while using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, taps, sounds, or another appropriate rhythm. The therapist pauses regularly so the client can notice what changes. The aim is for distress linked to the memory to reduce.

Installation

When the memory feels less disturbing, the therapist helps strengthen the positive belief the client wants to hold with the experience. The work is not only about lowering distress; it is also about helping adaptive meaning feel more true.

Body scan

The client holds the memory and positive belief in mind while noticing the body from head to toe. Any remaining tension, discomfort, or disturbance can be processed further until the body feels clearer or settled.

Closure

Every session ends by helping the client return to the present and leave as settled as possible, whether or not the memory work is complete. The therapist may review calming strategies and what to expect between sessions.

Re-evaluation

At the next session, the therapist and client review what has changed, whether distress remains low, whether the positive belief still feels strong, and what the next treatment target or step should be.