EMDR Preparation: What Early EMDR Therapy Might Look Like

EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, has become an increasingly sought-after treatment for individuals who have experienced trauma. There is plenty of information available about what EMDR therapy entails, how the reprocessing works, and the benefits it can offer. However, the preparation phase of EMDR is discussed far less frequently, which can lead clients to believe that they’ll be “jumping right in” to reprocess and desensitize traumatic memories within the first few sessions. While the idea of quickly diving into memory desensitization might seem appealing, there is an essential preparation process designed to support stabilization. This foundation helps ensure that EMDR provides the therapeutic benefits clients are looking for—rather than risking retraumatization.

Building Relationships

Individuals who have experienced trauma, as you may well know, often experience significant difficulty in connecting with others. This difficulty in connecting often stems from the inability (or difficulty) to trust others due to abuse at the hands of another. This difficulty in trusting others is why the building relationship phase of trauma treatment is so important. In order to heal, you need to feel safe with your therapist. What does safety mean in this context? Safety means feeling free to be your whole self without fear of judgment, being able to express yourself fully, and knowing that your emotions will be met with not just understanding but also empathy. 

When building a relationship with your therapist, it often feels like you’re “not really doing anything,” but in truth, this is some of the most important work that we do. Creating space for our clients where they can be fully seen and heard opens up the possibility of true healing and connection. So when you’re in those beginning phases, I encourage you to speak up if you’re uncomfortable or are feeling unheard, so we can repair in session what doesn’t feel good for you. 

Developing Skills

The initial phases of EMDR therapy are dedicated to building essential skills that help clients stay grounded and manage their emotions once the desensitization process begins. A key component of this work often includes somatic techniques, which help clients recognize and experience how emotions manifest physically. In our fast-paced lives, we frequently become disconnected from our bodies, overlooking important physical cues that can offer insight into the mind-body connection. Re-establishing this connection allows you to engage more fully in the therapeutic process. Since trauma is stored not only in the mind but also in the body, effective treatment must address both.

Your clinician will likely guide you in the development of emotional regulation skills and resourcing during the preparation phase as well. Emotional regulation skills will help you to feel and process your emotions without being overwhelmed by them. Feelings may not be facts, but they are clues that we want to be able to follow in order to better understand your inner world. Resourcing refers to the process of identifying and strengthening a client’s internal coping tools by drawing on their existing strengths, positive memories, and adaptive skills. Once these skills have been developed and you are feeling confident in your ability to utilize them independently, then we move into the desensitization phase. 

How long does preparation take?

I wish there was a simple answer to this question, but as clinicians, we learn that just as our clients bring their own unique concerns to therapy, so must the therapeutic process be tailored to the clients specific needs. Preparation can take anywhere from 2-3 sessions up to 52 sessions. It all depends on the skills the client needs to move through the desensitization process most effectively. EMDR is not a quick fix for trauma. It is a complex process that requires dedication and preparation in order to effect lasting change. If you feel it’s taking too long, or maybe that you are ready but your clinician isn’t moving into desensitization quickly enough, talk to your therapist. Communication and safety mean that your voice is the most important voice in the room. 

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