What to Know About EMDR
“It’s kind of like you get to do brain surgery without having to open your head.”
--Miley Cyrus on EMDR
In a New York Times profile, musician and performer Miley Cyrus spoke candidly about her experience with EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help resolve her stage fright--and reveal what was really behind her persistent fear. Here, she shares how EMDR allowed her to quickly reprocess traumatic memories while gaining new insights and adaptive beliefs.
So what exactly is EMDR therapy?
Developed in the late 1980s by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro, EMDR was originally designed to help people heal from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Since then, it’s been used successfully to treat a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, panic attacks, phobias, and low self-esteem. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR engages the brain’s natural healing processes through bilateral stimulation. (Despite “eye movement” in its name, EMDR can also be guided by tapping or sound.)
This protocol helps the brain “reprocess” traumatic memories in a way that removes their emotional charge. It’s not about forgetting or erasing the past, but about finding new, more adaptive ways to relate to it. Many clients report feeling as though the memory has been “filed away”—no longer something that defines them, but simply a chapter that’s been closed.
EMDR is a safe, evidence-based therapy that can be useful to anyone who carries pain from earlier experiences that still echo in the present. (Bonus: It translates beautifully in remote therapy, allowing clients to stay in a safe, familiar environment while processing difficult emotions.) Even if you can’t identify a specific traumatic event to process, EMDR can still pinpoint discomforts that stem from experiences deep in the subconscious.
Whether it’s a complicated childhood, a painful breakup, a car accident, or simply a sense of “never feeling good enough,” EMDR can help untangle the past from the present and create space for something new to emerge.
Looking for EMDR in Austin?
If you’re curious about EMDR in Austin or wondering if it might be a fit for you, we’re here to help. Contact us today to book your FREE one-hour consultation.