What is EMDR
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It is an evidence-based therapy developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro in 1987, and it has since become one of the most scientifically supported treatments for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What makes EMDR therapy unique is that it does not ask you to talk in detail about what happened to you. You do not need to relive every painful moment in words. Instead, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation, usually guided eye movements, to help your brain reprocess traumatic memories in a safe and controlled way.
In a nutshell
EMDR helps your brain "digest" memories that got stuck. Think of it as restarting a process that froze at the moment of trauma.
Organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Psychological Association and the U.S. Department of Defense recognize EMDR as an effective treatment for trauma. It is not an alternative or experimental therapy: it is science backed by more than 30 years of research.
For many first-generation Latina women, EMDR offers something profoundly valuable: the possibility of healing without having to find the perfect words to describe what you lived through. Sometimes pain does not fit into one language, and EMDR understands that.
How EMDR works
To understand how EMDR works, you first need to understand what happens in your brain when you experience something traumatic.
Normally, your brain processes experiences during sleep and daily life. It stores them as memories of the past, with an emotional tag that says "this is over." But when you experience something overwhelming, like violence, abuse, a forced separation from your family, or any experience that exceeds your processing capacity, the memory gets "frozen" in your nervous system.
That frozen memory does not have the "past" tag. That is why, when something reminds you of it, your body reacts as if it were happening right now. Your heart races, your hands tremble, your stomach tightens. Your brain does not distinguish between the memory and the present reality.
The 8 phases of EMDR
EMDR follows a structured 8-phase protocol that your therapist adapts to your pace:
- History and planning: your therapist gets to know you, understands your history and together you identify the memories that need to be processed
- Preparation: you learn emotional regulation techniques to feel safe during the process. This is key, no one is going to throw you into the water without a life jacket
- Assessment: you identify the specific memory, the associated negative beliefs (like "it was my fault") and the positive beliefs you want to install
- Desensitization: this is where bilateral stimulation occurs. You follow the movements with your eyes while keeping the memory in mind, and your brain begins to reprocess it
- Installation: the positive belief that replaces the negative one is strengthened
- Body scan: you check that no physical tension associated with the memory remains
- Closure: your therapist makes sure you leave the session feeling stable
- Reevaluation: in the next session, you review how you feel and whether the processing was completed
What conditions it treats
Although EMDR was originally developed for PTSD, research has shown that it is effective for a variety of mental health conditions:
Conditions that respond well to EMDR
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex trauma
- Generalized anxiety and panic attacks
- Specific phobias
- Depression related to traumatic experiences
- Complicated grief
- Chronic pain with an emotional component
- Low self-esteem rooted in past experiences
At Happy Autumn, we work with many women who carry traumas from their immigration process, from domestic violence, from family separations or from growing up in environments where their emotional needs were not met. EMDR allows them to process those experiences without having to narrate them in detail, something that for many is an enormous relief.
EMDR and immigration trauma
The immigration process itself can be traumatic. The separation from your family, legal uncertainty, constant fear, experiences along the way: all of this leaves marks on your nervous system. Many women do not identify these experiences as "trauma" because they normalized them or because they feel that "others had it worse."
But your body does not lie. If you startle easily, if you have nightmares, if you avoid certain places or conversations, if you feel like you are always on high alert, those are signs that there are memories your brain has not been able to process. EMDR can help.
Your first EMDR session
Your first EMDR session does not include trauma processing. That is the first thing I want you to know, because many people arrive fearing they will be made to relive everything from day one. That is not how it works.
The first sessions, usually between two and four, are dedicated to preparation. Your therapist wants to get to know you, understand your history and make sure you have the emotional tools needed for processing.
What happens at your first appointment
Your therapist will ask about what brought you to therapy, your current symptoms and your general history. You do not have to give details about what you went through. They will also teach you a regulation exercise, like the "safe place," that you can use when you need to calm down.
Frequently asked questions about the first session
- How long is a session? Usually between 50 and 90 minutes. Processing sessions may be longer
- Will it hurt? No. It can be emotionally intense in some processing sessions, but your therapist guides you and you can stop at any time
- How many sessions do I need? It depends on your history. A single-event trauma can be resolved in 6 to 12 sessions. Complex trauma may take longer
- Can I do it if I don't speak English well? At Happy Autumn all sessions are bilingual. You can speak in Spanish, English or mix both. You do not need to translate your pain
Common myths about EMDR
Like any therapy that sounds different, EMDR comes with its fair share of myths. Let's debunk the most common ones:
Myth 1: "It's hypnosis"
EMDR is not hypnosis. You are fully conscious and in control throughout the entire session. If at any point you feel uncomfortable, you can open your eyes, talk to your therapist or stop. You always have control.
Myth 2: "It only works for war veterans"
Although initial research was done with veterans, EMDR works for any type of trauma. Child abuse, domestic violence, accidents, immigration trauma, sudden losses. Trauma does not have just one face, and neither does EMDR.
Myth 3: "If it didn't work in the first session, it won't work for me"
Processing in EMDR is gradual. Some people feel relief after the first processing session, but many need several sessions to notice significant changes. Trusting the process is part of the process.
Myth 4: "It will erase my memories"
EMDR does not erase anything. What it does is change the way your brain stores the memory. After processing, you can remember what happened, but without the overwhelming emotional charge. The memory stops controlling you.
Myth 5: "It's too new, there's not enough evidence"
EMDR has over 35 years of research. There are hundreds of controlled clinical studies demonstrating its effectiveness. The World Health Organization recommends it as a first-line treatment for PTSD. There is nothing "new" or "experimental" about EMDR.
Online EMDR
One of the most common questions we receive is whether EMDR works online. The short answer is yes. Research shows that EMDR via videoconference is just as effective as in-person for most people.
In online sessions, instead of following your therapist's finger with your eyes, we use bilateral stimulation tools adapted for the screen. It can be a dot that moves back and forth on your monitor, tapping (alternating taps on your knees or shoulders that you do yourself), or auditory stimulation with headphones.
Advantages of online EMDR for Latinas
- Privacy: no one has to see you walk into an office. You can take your session from your room, your car or any space where you feel safe
- Accessibility: no transportation, childcare or work permission needed. Your session can be during lunch or when the kids are at school
- Continuity: if you move within Texas, Arkansas or Florida, you do not lose your therapist. The process is not interrupted
- Comfort: many women process better from a space that feels their own. Your home can be emotionally safer than an unfamiliar office
Todas nuestras sesiones en línea cumplen con los estándares HIPAA de privacidad y confidencialidad. Usamos plataformas seguras y encriptadas para proteger tu información.
Your safety is our priority
We accept Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Optum and United Healthcare insurance. If you do not have insurance, ask us about our accessible rates. Cost should never be what stops you from healing.
What I want you to take away
- EMDR is a proven therapy that allows you to process trauma without having to relive it in words
- It is not hypnosis, it does not erase memories, and you are in control at all times
- The first sessions are for preparation, no one throws you into processing from day one
- It works online and is available for you in Texas, Arkansas and Florida
- Your immigration story, your pain and your culture are welcome in this space
