EMDR can re-wire the brain to think more positively.

I have a spiel I say to clients when explaining EMDR that came from my fantastic trainers in the workbook I received when taking the EMDR training.. I’m thankful for this script that I have now learned to make my own.

I find EMDR can be difficult at times to explain to someone who may be skeptical or who may not have an interest in counseling, but still have an interest in learning what I do for a living.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Whew, try saying that 5 times fast. The reality is, EMDR won’t fully be understood until it’s experienced. It’s very different from “talk therapy.” And to debunk a myth, no, it’s not the same as hypnotherapy.

EMDR works to use bilateral stimulation to desensitize a person to a specific difficult situation. That, in and of itself, is a wonderful, healing process. But here is what I find most interesting and most compelling when explaining. It works to break down what we call a negative cognition. So what is this?

Negative cognitions are what we believe about ourselves in relation to a specific event. Sometimes they are so deep-seeded that those patterns of thinking affect the way we interact with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us.

Two of the main negative cognitions are “I’m not good enough” and “I don’t matter.” There are many other negative cognitions, but we find these two are the deepest and often the most damaging. When I explain this to people, I see a lot of head nods and points of connection when I name these two. Truthfully, few people have gotten through life without some form of these cognitions.

Let’s be honest, these are not always things we say out-loud or share with others. However, our life experiences have led us to believe these cognitions on a very deep level. Maybe you can relate. I can too.

EMDR works to truly break down these negative personal beliefs. This is where the real healing comes in.

When a person has lived most of their life feeling like they don’t matter in this world, imagine how it affects the ways they interact with family, friends, coworkers, etc. Through EMDR, a person can break down these belief systems and not only superficially say the opposite, but begin to believe it. When a person believes they matter, this changes things. They interact with people differently. They begin to feel a confidence they have never felt before. Now, this can cause some tension in relationships. It doesn’t mean things are going to immediately turn around, or that life is now “easy.” But the person has a new way of viewing themselves. And it’s the most beautiful thing to encounter.

I’ve been known to shed a tear in my sessions with clients. I don’t pretend that I’m not human. Seeing someone transform through EMDR and change those negative cognitions at a deep level is incredible. And I feel so honored to be invited into their story.



While reading this blog, maybe you relate to the idea of negative cognitions. Let me be the first to encourage you to give this a try. It’s a journey, and not always an easy one, but it’s so worth it. Please feel free to check out our website to learn more about EMDR

https://www.coastalwellness.net/what-is-emdr.