By: Faith Suckerman MA LPCC LADC – Senior Counselor at Progress Valley Residential
Have you ever found yourself stuck in the same emotional loop—feeling anxious, unworthy, or overwhelmed—without fully understanding why? Maybe certain thoughts or reactions seem to come out of nowhere, repeating themselves in different situations, relationships, or stages of life. What if those thoughts weren’t random at all?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) offers a powerful lens through which to understand these patterns. It helps uncover the deeper roots of your emotional responses—often tied to past experiences that your mind and body haven’t fully processed. In this blog, we’ll explore how EMDR works, why it’s effective, and how it can help you shift long-held beliefs about yourself that no longer serve you.
Whether you’re curious about how EMDR fits into early recovery, wondering what to expect during a session, or simply seeking a new way to understand your inner world—this guide is for you.
Do you notice that certain emotions & thoughts continue to come up for you?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) looks at the past emotionally charged experiences and how they are currently influencing your emotions, sensations and thoughts about yourself. EMDR helps to look at where those repeated ‘core beliefs’ about yourself come from and then reprocess the events prompting the beliefs. EMDR uses a set of procedures to organize your negative and positive feelings, emotions, and thoughts, and then uses bilateral stimulation (typically eye movement or tappers), as a way to help you effectively work through those disturbing memories.
FAQs about EMDR:
Will I become very emotional? You may become emotional during the process but prior to beginning reprocessing you will be provided with several specific skills and then guided through using those skills throughout the reprocessing phase.
Can you do EMDR in early recovery? YES! There are contained and restricted procedures for reprocessing with clients that are in the early stages of recovery and still experience mood instability.
How long does EMDR take? This can vary from client to client, depending on what is being reprocessed. That being said, it is typically not a short process. Clients will be guided through several phases of EMDR to help prepare them for the actual reprocessing experience. Once reprocessing is complete, clients will be guided through what is referred to as ‘installation’ to help introduce positive thoughts about self that will replace the previous core beliefs.
Can more than one disturbing event be targeted? YES! Each event is addressed separately, but many different events cause a similar core belief about self. This typically makes addressing an initial event then beneficial to any other events that prompt the same belief.
If you’ve noticed certain thoughts or emotions showing up again and again, it might be time to explore where they’re really coming from—and how you can begin to shift them. EMDR therapy offers a structured, compassionate approach to healing that helps you reconnect with your sense of self beyond past pain or limiting beliefs.
To learn more about EMDR and how it might support your healing journey, reach out to Faith at Progress Valley. Whether you’re just beginning to explore therapy or you’re ready to dive deeper, you’re not alone—and support is just a conversation away.
And as always, feel free to reach out to our Mental Health Clinic, where we can provide anything from an initial triage assessment to individual, family, and couples therapy—supporting you and your loved ones through the season and beyond.
Reach out to our Central Access Team at (952) 956-3100 or submit a mental health inquiry on our website. A member of the mental health team will be in touch to guide you through the process and provide the support you need.
