Key Takeaways
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured therapy developed in 1987 by psychologist Francine Shapiro. Originally designed for trauma, it has become a widely used approach for reducing anxiety by helping the brain reprocess distressing memories and triggers that keep you stuck in fear mode.
Research spanning 1997–2017 (including six randomized controlled trials plus newer studies) suggests EMDR is especially effective for panic disorder and specific phobias, while evidence for generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder remains promising but still limited.
Treatment typically takes 6–12 sessions, with research averaging 7–8 sessions of 70–90 minutes. Many clients experience earlier relief of anxiety symptoms compared to some traditional talk therapies, particularly for trauma-related problems.
EMDR does not require detailed descriptions of traumatic events—it can feel less overwhelming than traditional exposure therapy for many anxious clients who dread “reliving” their worst moments.
EMDR should only be done with a licensed, EMDR-trained therapist and can be combined with other treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy and medication for complex anxiety disorders.
What Is EMDR and Why It’s Used for Anxiety
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based psychotherapy originally developed for post traumatic stress disorder but now widely applied across anxiety disorders and related conditions. What started as a treatment for traumatic memories has expanded to address everything from panic attacks to performance anxiety to chronic worry.
For men in the Denver area struggling with anxiety, EMDR offers a practical, results-focused approach that doesn’t require endless talking about your feelings. Many men try to think their way out of anxiety. They analyze it, rationalize it, and convince themselves they should just be able to “get over it.” But anxiety doesn’t respond to logic. That’s because it’s not a thinking problem. It’s a processing problem. Your brain has stored certain experiences in a way that keeps triggering alarm bells, even when you consciously know there’s no real threat. EMDR addresses this directly by helping your brain finally process what’s been stuck.
EMDR therapy uses bilateral stimulation—typically guided eye movements, but sometimes alternating taps or auditory tones—while you briefly focus on distressing memories, body sensations, or anxious thoughts. Unlike purely talk-based approaches, movement desensitization and reprocessing intentionally works with images, emotions, and physical sensations alongside cognitions.
The theoretical foundation is the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. In simple terms, anxiety can be maintained by “stuck” or maladaptively stored memories in your brain’s neural networks. These memories never got properly filed away, so they keep triggering excessive anxiety as if past threats were still happening now. Trauma can overwhelm the brain’s natural ability to heal, and EMDR therapy helps restore this ability through bilateral stimulation to process traumatic memories. EMDR treatment aims to reprocess these experiences so they feel like part of the past rather than an ongoing danger. EMDR works by re-engaging and supporting the brain’s natural ability to process and resolve distressing memories.
Think of it like a computer with a corrupted file. You try to open it (the memory), and the whole system crashes (anxiety). EMDR is the software update that fixes the file so you can open it without the crash Bilateral stimulation is a key technique that helps facilitate this natural healing process.
This approach works even when there’s no single “big trauma” to point to. EMDR can target:
Smaller but cumulative experiences of shame or criticism
Childhood bullying or rejection
Medical procedures or health scares
Chronic stress from unstable environments
Embarrassing moments that still make you cringe years later
The goal is shifting core negative beliefs like “I’m not safe” or “Something terrible will happen” into more adaptive ones like “I can handle this” or “I’m okay now.”
The Research Is In: EMDR Works for Anxiety Disorders
For years, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been considered the gold standard for treating anxiety disorders. And for good reason. It works. But the latest research suggests EMDR therapy for anxiety deserves a seat at the same table.
A recent meta-analysis found that EMDR was as effective as CBT in reducing social anxiety symptoms, with comparable effect sizes across multiple studies. These studies specifically evaluated the EMDR intervention as a structured, protocol-driven therapy targeting anxiety symptoms, panic, and phobias.
The Meta-Analysis: Hard Numbers on EMDR and Anxiety
In 2020, researchers published the first meta-analysis specifically examining EMDR and anxiety disorders (not PTSD). They analyzed 17 randomized controlled trials involving 647 participants. The results were significant:
Anxiety symptoms: Moderate effect size (g = -0.71)
Panic symptoms: Moderate effect size (g = -0.62)
Phobia symptoms: Significant effect size (g = -0.45)
Physical/somatic symptoms: Significant effect size (g = -0.40)
The researchers concluded that “EMDR is efficacious for reducing symptoms of anxiety, panic, phobia, and behavioral/somatic symptoms.”How EMDR Works for Anxiety: Step-by-Step
Understanding what actually happens in EMDR sessions can reduce the fear of the unknown. Here’s a practical walk-through of how the process typically unfolds for someone with anxiety—whether you’re dealing with fear of public speaking, panic in supermarkets, or general worry that won’t quit.
Standard EMDR follows an eight-phase protocol, but the focus here is on how those phases apply to anxiety-producing memories, current triggers (like crowds or work presentations), and anticipatory worry about what might happen next.
Treatment progresses through a clear sequence: For more on how EMDR compares to other trauma therapies, see this Brainspotting vs EMDR: A Guide to Trauma Therapy Options.
Understanding your anxiety history
Building coping tools and stabilization
Actively processing specific anxiety-related memories and images
Rehearsing confident future responses
EMDR for anxiety is usually delivered in weekly sessions of 60–90 minutes. Single-incident phobias (like fear of flying after one bad flight) may resolve faster than chronic, complex anxiety patterns built over decades.
Translation: This isn’t wishful thinking or anecdotal evidence. The data shows EMDR genuinely helps people with anxiety disorders.
EMDR vs. CBT: How Do They Compare?
Here’s where it gets interesting. Multiple studies have now directly compared EMDR to CBT, and EMDR holds its own.
For Panic Disorder: A 2017 randomized controlled trial published in Frontiers in Psychology compared 13 sessions of EMDR to 13 sessions of CBT in 84 patients with panic disorder. The result? EMDR was “non-inferior” to CBT. In clinical research terms, that means it was proven to be just as effective at reducing panic symptoms and improving quality of life.
For Social Anxiety: A 2024 study compared EMDR and CBT for adolescents with social anxiety disorder. Both treatments significantly improved quality of life, and there was “no significant difference between the effectiveness of the two intervention methods.” Notably, the EMDR group achieved comparable results in only 8 sessions compared to CBT’s 12.
These findings matter because they give you options. If you’ve tried CBT and it wasn’t the right fit, or if the thought-challenging approach doesn’t resonate with you, EMDR for anxiety disorders offers a legitimate, research-backed alternative.
What Makes EMDR Different for Treating Anxiety
So if EMDR gets similar results to CBT, why choose one over the other? The difference lies in how they work.
CBT Focuses on Thoughts. EMDR Focuses on Memories.
CBT operates on the premise that your thoughts drive your emotions. It teaches you to identify unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with more balanced ones. It’s logical, structured, and effective for many people.
EMDR takes a different angle. It’s built on the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, which proposes that many current psychological problems, including anxiety, stem from disturbing memories that weren’t properly processed.
As one research team put it: “Current problems result from disturbing memories and distressing events that are inadequately processed, and when these memories are processed using bilateral stimulation, the symptoms of the disorder are reduced or eliminated altogether.”
Think of it this way: CBT helps you manage your reaction to anxiety triggers. EMDR aims to defuse the triggers themselves.
EMDR Addresses the Physical Side of Anxiety
Anyone who’s experienced anxiety knows it’s not just mental. It’s intensely physical. Racing heart. Tight chest. Sweating. Trembling. These symptoms can be just as debilitating as the anxious thoughts.
Research shows that EMDR directly targets these somatic symptoms. The 2020 meta-analysis found significant reductions in “behavioral/somatic symptoms” across studies. A study on panic disorder specifically measured patients’ fear of bodily sensations and found EMDR was as effective as CBT on this measure.
The AIP model explains this by suggesting that unprocessed memories store not just the emotional content of an experience, but the physical sensations too. When EMDR helps process the memory, the body’s stuck responses can finally release.
EMDR Works for Specific Fears and Phobias Too
Beyond generalized anxiety and panic, research has examined EMDR for anxiety disorders involving specific phobias, with impressive results.
Dental Phobia
A randomized clinical trial on dental phobia found that after just three EMDR sessions, patients showed significant decreases in dental anxiety and avoidance behavior. The effects held at 3-month and 12-month follow-ups. Here’s the most striking finding: one year after treatment, 83.3% of the EMDR patients were attending regular dental appointments.
That’s not just statistical improvement. That’s real behavioral change.
Fear of Flying
A study on flight anxiety compared several treatment approaches, including CBT combined with EMDR. All approaches were effective, with results maintained at one-year follow-up. The researchers found that “combining CBT with either EMDR or virtual reality exposure therapy seemed as efficient as traditional CBT integrated with systematic desensitization.”
How EMDR Therapy Works
EMDR therapy is a structured approach that helps you reduce distress from traumatic memories and anxiety. Whether you deal with panic, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, or obsessive compulsive patterns, EMDR offers a way to address what’s actually driving your symptoms.
In EMDR sessions, you work with a trained therapist to identify specific memories or triggers that still affect your daily life. These might be major events like a car accident or loss. Or smaller but persistent stuff like repeated criticism or a humiliating moment at school. Your therapist helps you build a treatment plan that fits your specific needs and goals.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation. That’s usually guided eye movements, sometimes hand taps or sounds. While you briefly focus on a distressing memory or anxious thought, your therapist guides you through these rhythmic movements. This process mimics how your brain naturally processes information, like what happens during sleep. The emotional charge of traumatic memories and negative beliefs gets reduced. You can recall the event without the same level of distress.
If you want the step-by-step breakdown, read our guide to the eight phases of EMDR.
EMDR for Different Types of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety isn’t one single condition. Mental disorders involving excessive worry, intense fear, and avoidance show up in many forms. EMDR has been studied and used across generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, panic disorder (with and without agoraphobia), and health-related anxiety. These conditions are defined and diagnosed according to criteria established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the authoritative psychiatric classification system used by clinicians and researchers.
Research between 1997 and 2017 includes several randomized controlled trials on panic disorder and specific phobias, plus smaller and newer studies on other anxiety presentations. The evidence is generally positive but still evolving for some conditions.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
General anxiety disorder (also written as generalized anxiety disorder) involves chronic excessive worry about multiple areas of life—work, health, finances, relationships—lasting at least six months. It’s often accompanied by restlessness, muscle tension, sleep problems, and a persistent sense that something bad is about to happen.
Cognitive behavioral therapy remains the most researched first-line treatment for GAD. However, EMDR may help when excessive worry is fueled by unresolved past experiences:
Chaotic or unpredictable childhoods
Past medical scares
Financial instability or job losses
Relationships where you never felt safe
EMDR for GAD often targets “themes” rather than single events. Your therapist might identify repeated experiences of criticism, chronic unpredictability, or early failures that created negative beliefs like “The world is dangerous” or “I can’t cope with uncertainty.”
While more controlled research is needed, many clinicians report positive outcomes integrating EMDR into broader GAD treatment plans alongside other psychological interventions.
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
Social anxiety disorder involves intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or rejected in social or performance situations. This can lead to avoidance of meetings, presentations, parties, or even everyday interactions like ordering coffee.
CBT with exposure and cognitive restructuring remains the standard evidence-based treatment. But EMDR can complement—or in some cases substitute for—traditional approaches when exposure therapy feels too overwhelming.
EMDR for SAD typically focuses on memories of social humiliation or rejection that still “feel present” when facing new situations:
Being laughed at in middle school
A disastrous presentation in 2015
Harsh criticism from a parent or boss
Feeling invisible or excluded at social events
Controlled trials of EMDR specifically for SAD are limited. However, case reports and small studies (sometimes combined with mindfulness or skills training) show significant decreases in social anxiety and avoidance.
EMDR also shows promise for specific performance-related anxiety:
Type | Evidence Level |
|---|---|
Test anxiety | More consistently positive data |
Public speaking anxiety | Promising case studies |
Performance anxiety (general) | Limited but encouraging |
Interview anxiety | Clinical reports only |
Specific Phobias
Specific phobias are intense, focused fears of particular objects or situations—flying, dogs, spiders, injections, dental procedures—that are excessive and interfere with daily life. You know the fear is irrational, but knowing doesn’t stop the panic.
Exposure therapy remains the gold-standard treatment. But EMDR is increasingly used when a phobia links to a discrete disturbing event:
A turbulent flight that left you shaking
A painful dental procedure with dental phobia developing afterward
A dog attack in childhood
An injection that went wrong
At least two RCTs from the late 1990s through 2010s showed EMDR significantly reduced dental phobia and flight anxiety, with benefits maintained at follow-up periods up to around 12 months.
EMDR for phobias typically starts by processing:
The original “worst” experience
Any vivid catastrophic images (imagining a plane crash, a spider crawling on you)
Current triggers that maintain avoidance
After EMDR reprocessing treatment, many clients find that exposure work feels more tolerable—or sometimes becomes unnecessary altogether because the fear response has already diminished.
EMDR can be used alone or combined with CBT or virtual reality exposure for a flexible, patient-tailored approach.
Panic Disorder With and Without Agoraphobia
Panic disorder involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks plus ongoing worry about future attacks. Physical symptoms can be terrifying: heart pounding, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, feelings of unreality. Many people end up in emergency rooms convinced they’re having a heart attack.
Agoraphobia often develops afterward—fear and avoidance of places where escape might be difficult or help unavailable. This can include public transport, crowded malls, bridges, or even leaving home.
Three RCTs between 1997 and 2017, along with multiple case studies, explored EMDR for panic with generally positive outcomes. Some studies showed mixed results for severe agoraphobia, but overall, the research supports EMDR as an effective intervention.
EMDR for panic targets:
The first or worst panic attacks (often traumatic experiences in themselves)
Earlier episodes of feeling trapped or helpless
Catastrophic images about future attacks (collapsing in public, “going crazy,” dying)
Physical sensations associated with anxiety panic attacks
Some studies found EMDR may reduce attack frequency and panic-related distress at least as effectively as—and sometimes faster than—standard CBT. However, more high-quality comparative trials are needed to establish definitive clinical and research implications.
EMDR has also shown promise for patients suffering panic-related conditions in medical settings, including post myocardial infarction patients dealing with cardiac anxiety.
Other Anxiety-Related Presentations
EMDR has been applied beyond the diagnostic and statistical manual’s core anxiety categories:
Health Anxiety EMDR often targets past medical traumas—childhood hospitalization, witnessing a family member’s sudden illness, a frightening misdiagnosis, or an emergency room visit that left lasting fear about health.
OCD Elements For obsessive compulsive disorder, EMDR is not a replacement for exposure and response prevention (the gold-standard treatment). However, it can help process early experiences of contamination fears, excessive guilt, or inflated responsibility that intensify OCD symptoms and related anxiety.
Stress-Related Anxiety People experiencing severe stress—whether from work pressure, relationship difficulties, chronic pain, or life transitions—may benefit from EMDR even without meeting criteria for a formal diagnosis.
Mood Disorders Connection Anxiety often co-occurs with major depressive disorder. EMDR addressing traumatic experiences can reduce both anxiety and depressive symptoms simultaneously.
Research in these areas is mostly limited to small trials and case reports showing reductions in anxiety and distress. Larger, controlled studies are needed for replication. EMDR should be considered a promising adjunctive approach where standard treatments don’t fully resolve symptoms.
Is EMDR Right for Your Anxiety?
Not every treatment works for every person. But the research suggests EMDR is worth serious consideration if:
You’ve tried other approaches without success. EMDR offers a different mechanism of action than talk therapy or CBT. If those haven’t clicked for you, EMDR’s memory-focused approach might.
Your anxiety seems connected to past experiences. Maybe it started after a specific event, or maybe you can trace your anxious patterns back to childhood. EMDR is designed to address these roots.
You experience strong physical symptoms. If your anxiety lives in your body as much as your mind, EMDR’s ability to target somatic symptoms could be particularly helpful.
You want an efficient treatment. Some studies show EMDR achieving comparable results to CBT in fewer sessions. While individual experiences vary, EMDR isn’t typically a years-long commitment.
The “challenging your thoughts” approach doesn’t resonate. Some people find CBT’s cognitive restructuring tedious or intellectualizing. EMDR works differently. You don’t have to argue with your thoughts or complete homework worksheets.
What to Expect in an EMDR Session for Anxiety
Walking into your first treatment session can feel intimidating, especially when anxiety is already your baseline. Here’s what the experience typically looks like.
The therapy room is usually a calm, private space. Your therapist introduces bilateral stimulation—often asking you to follow their fingers with your eye movements, or offering alternative options like handheld buzzers or tapping. You’re not expected to talk extensively or describe traumatic memories in graphic detail.
Early sessions focus on getting to know you and building safety. Active processing of anxiety triggers usually starts only after adequate preparation—you won’t be thrown into the deep end.
A typical session snapshot (from the client’s perspective):
Check-in (5-10 minutes): How’s your anxiety been this week? Any dreams or new triggers?
Brief relaxation (5 minutes): Grounding exercise to center yourself
EMDR sets (30-45 minutes): Processing a chosen target with bilateral stimulation, checking in between sets
Wrap-up (10 minutes): Returning to calm, reviewing coping tools, preparing for the week ahead
EMDR is collaborative and paced according to your tolerance. You can slow down, pause, or stop processing at any point. You’re always in control.
Common reactions after a session include:
Feeling tired or emotionally drained
Having vivid dreams
Noticing reduced anxiety in previously triggering situations
Experiencing brief waves of emotion as processing continues between sessions
Some research has also explored EMDR’s effects on physical performance, such as improvements in muscle relaxation or motor functioning. This can be especially relevant for clients whose anxiety includes physical symptoms, as EMDR may help with both emotional and physical aspects of anxiety.
Duration, Number of Sessions, and Course of Improvement
Research and clinical practice find 6–12 sessions sufficient for many single-issue anxiety problems. Complex, long-standing anxiety may require more extended work.
Anxiety Type | Typical Session Range |
|---|---|
Single-incident phobia | 3-6 sessions |
Panic disorder | 6-12 sessions |
Social anxiety | 8-15 sessions |
GAD with multiple themes | 12-20+ sessions |
In systematic reviews across disorders, average EMDR treatment involved roughly 7–8 sessions of around 70–90 minutes each. Real-world practice may use standard 50–60 minute sessions, which can extend the total number needed.
Clients often notice some anxiety relief after the first few processing sessions. However, deeper and more stable change builds gradually over the full course. The experimental group in studies typically shows continued improvement at follow-up assessments months later.
Improvement is rarely linear. It’s normal to experience temporary spikes in anxiety as previously avoided memories and physical sensations surface and resolve. Your treatment plan should account for this natural rhythm.
EMDR is not a “magic fix.” It’s a focused method that can accelerate progress when there’s a strong memory or belief component driving your anxiety symptoms.
Benefits and Limitations of EMDR for Anxiety
EMDR is both promising and imperfect. Understanding what it can and can’t do helps you make informed decisions about whether to try this integrated psychotherapy treatment approach.
Potential Benefits
Works when words aren’t enough EMDR can reduce anxiety symptoms even when you struggle to verbalize your experiences. This makes it suitable for people who feel “talked out” or overwhelmed by traditional exposure therapy.
Potentially faster results Several trials and systematic review analyses indicate EMDR can achieve positive outcomes in fewer sessions than some alternative approaches for trauma-related anxiety. One study found significant differences in treatment group outcomes, with EMDR participants showing rapid declines in both trauma symptoms and anxiety compared to a control group.
Addresses body and mind together EMDR’s focus on both cognitive and somatic aspects may help resolve physical anxiety symptoms—tightness, nausea, dizziness, difficulty breathing—that persist despite insight-oriented therapy. The brain’s natural ability to process and integrate experience works on multiple levels simultaneously.
Tolerable for most clients Dropout rates in EMDR studies tend to be low, suggesting many anxious clients find the method manageable. Unlike prolonged exposure, you’re not asked to relive the worst moments in exhaustive detail.
Flexible integration EMDR combines well with CBT, medication, mindfulness, and skills training. Your therapist can blend approaches based on what you need.
Example of success: A client with years of talk therapy behind her still experienced intense emotions and panic before flights. Three EMDR sessions targeting a turbulent flight experience from 2008 and associated catastrophic imagery resulted in her first calm flight in a decade.
Limitations and Who EMDR May Not Suit
Evidence gaps High-quality RCT evidence for EMDR is strongest for posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and specific phobias. Data for generalized and social anxiety remain limited or preliminary. Some findings are based on randomly assigned participants in small pilot trials.
Not everyone responds Some clients notice little change in anxiety or prefer CBT’s structure, homework, and explicit skills training. EMDR focuses on processing; CBT emphasizes learning and practice.
Requires accessing uncomfortable material EMDR involves intentionally focusing on distressing experiences. For people with severe dissociation, psychosis, or very unstable living situations, EMDR may require extensive preparation—or may not be appropriate initially.
Example of limitation: A client with complex trauma, ongoing safety concerns, and severe dissociation needed months of stabilization work before any EMDR reprocessing could safely begin. For him, trauma therapy required significant groundwork first.
If you have concerns—fear of losing control, skepticism about whether “eye movements can actually work,” worry about what might come up—discuss them openly with a qualified therapist before deciding.
EMDR Compared With CBT and Other Anxiety Treatments
CBT, especially exposure-based approaches, remains the most extensively validated treatment for anxiety disorders. EMDR is an emerging, evidence-supported alternative or adjunct—particularly valuable for trauma-linked anxiety.
Key differences:
Aspect | CBT | EMDR |
|---|---|---|
Primary focus | Challenging distorted thoughts, gradual exposure to fears | Reprocessing underlying memories and beliefs |
Homework | Significant (thought records, exposure exercises) | Minimal between-session tasks |
Verbal processing | Extensive discussion and analysis | Limited verbalization during processing |
Session structure | Skill-building and practice | Bilateral stimulation with memory/imagery focus |
Comparative research shows EMDR and trauma-focused CBT produce broadly similar outcomes for PTSD. Small trials suggest comparable benefits for panic and some phobias. However, large-scale head-to-head anxiety studies remain sparse.
Medication (SSRIs, SNRIs, benzodiazepines) can reduce anxiety symptoms but doesn’t directly reprocess the memories and negative beliefs EMDR targets. Combination approaches are common:
Medication to reduce baseline anxiety
EMDR to address root memories
CBT skills for ongoing management
Think of EMDR and CBT not as rivals but as complementary tools. The “best” choice depends on your history, preferences, symptom profile, and access to trained clinicians.
Some anxious clients prefer EMDR because it doesn’t require extensive homework or reliving experiences in exhaustive detail. Others prefer CBT’s structured, skill-building approach. Neither is universally superior.
Finding a Qualified EMDR Therapist for Anxiety
EMDR should be delivered only by licensed mental health professionals who have completed formal EMDR training and follow recognized standards of practice.
Where to look:
National or regional EMDR organization websites
Psychology Today therapist finder (filter for EMDR)
Referrals from your primary care doctor or psychiatrist
Look for therapists with training verified by reputable bodies and specific experience treating anxiety disorders—not just PTSD.
Practical tips:
Check whether they’ve completed basic or advanced/certified training
Ask approximately how many EMDR cases they’ve treated
Confirm experience with your specific type of anxiety
Discuss whether they integrate EMDR with other approaches
EMDR is available both in-person and online. For telehealth, therapists use adaptations like on-screen eye movements, self-tapping (butterfly hug), or audio tones through headphones. Privacy and a stable internet connection are essential for effective remote sessions.
Trust your instincts about fit. Feeling safe, understood, and not rushed is critical for effective EMDR, especially when processing anxiety and panic-related memories.
Questions to Ask a Potential EMDR Therapist
Before committing, get clear answers:
“What formal EMDR training have you completed, and when?”
Look for training through EMDR International Association-approved programs
“How often do you use EMDR to treat anxiety or panic specifically?”
Experience with anxiety matters—not all EMDR therapists specialize in it
“What does a typical EMDR therapy session for anxiety look like with you?”
Helps you know what to expect
“How do you decide whether EMDR, CBT, medication referral, or a combination is most appropriate?”
Good therapists individualize treatment
“How do you ensure sessions end with me feeling stable?”
Important for highly anxious clients
“How will we measure whether EMDR is actually reducing my anxiety over time?”
Look for use of standardized anxiety scales and regular check-ins
“What are your fees, session length, and expected treatment duration?”
Discuss practical matters before starting
Ready to Stop Overthinking and Start Living?
If you’re in the Denver area and this article resonates with you, you don’t have to figure it out alone. At Denver Men’s Therapy, we specialize in using EMDR to help men get back in the driver’s seat.
FAQ
Is EMDR only for people with obvious trauma, or can it help if my anxiety seems to come from nowhere?
EMDR was developed for trauma but is now widely used when anxiety arises from many smaller experiences rather than one major event. Your therapist can target patterns and clusters of memories—repeated criticism, subtle bullying, chronic uncertainty—that contribute to a persistent sense of threat, even if you don’t identify a single negative memory as “trauma.”
Can EMDR make my anxiety worse?
It’s possible to feel temporarily more anxious as distressing memories or physical sensations surface during early sessions. With proper preparation and pacing, this is usually manageable and short-lived. A trained therapist teaches grounding skills, monitors intensity closely, and slows or pauses processing if anxiety becomes too high. The goal is always long-term reduction in overall anxiety.
How do I know if EMDR is working for my anxiety?
Progress typically shows up as lower baseline anxiety, fewer or less intense panic attacks, reduced avoidance of feared situations, and shifts in core beliefs (from “I’m unsafe” to “I can handle this”). Therapists track changes with standardized scales and regular check-ins. Measurable improvement usually appears after several active processing sessions.
Can EMDR be done while I’m taking anxiety medication?
Yes. EMDR is frequently combined with medications like SSRIs or SNRIs. Medication can make anxiety more manageable so you can engage fully in reprocessing therapy, while EMDR addresses underlying causes that medication alone doesn’t resolve. Always coordinate with your prescribing clinician before making any medication changes.
Is online EMDR as effective as in-person EMDR for anxiety?
Early studies and clinical experience suggest well-delivered online EMDR can be effective for many anxiety presentations, especially when you have a private, safe space and a stable internet connection. Some people still prefer in-person sessions for the physical presence and connection. Discuss with your therapist which format feels safer and more practical for your needs.
