EMDR: What the Research Says—and Why You Still Matter More

People often forget that therapy is both a science and an art.

This means that while research is incredibly important—because it helps us rigorously understand what works—it’s not the only thing that matters. That’s the tension I hold every day in my work as a therapist. I care deeply about research. But at the end of the day, it’s not only the intervention or the outcome data that creates change. It’s the relational context + the intervention. It’s the safety, connection, and presence we create together in the room. We’re two human beings sitting across from each other.

That being said, I won’t lie—I'm also a PhD student in Social Work, and I absolutely cheer when a significant finding pops up in my statistics software. (Yes, I’m that kind of nerd.) Research excites me. I love asking hard questions and finding patterns. But none of it matters for therapy unless it helps us show up more fully in the therapy room, in real life, with real people.

What does science say about the effectiveness of EMDR?

Across multiple large-scale meta-analyses and systematic reviews (which combine the results of many studies to draw big-picture conclusions), EMDR has been shown to be highly effective in reducing PTSD symptoms in both adults and youth (references #1-3). When compared to other leading trauma therapies like Trauma-Focused CBT or prolonged exposure therapy, EMDR has shown even greater effectiveness in reducing arousal and intrusion symptoms (reference #4). There is also some preliminary research evidence that EMDR is effective more broadly to addressing the severity of other mental health and physical health diagnoses that are exacerbated by traumatic stress or chronic hypervigilance, such as anxiety, phobia, depression, dissociation, substance use, the severity of manic episodes, as well as chronic pain and nausea related to phobias (references #5-9).

Another evidence-based therapy for PTSD is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). When I first started training as a social worker, I learned TF-CBT. It’s a strong, research-backed model, especially for kids and teens. But it didn’t quite click for me. As someone who already lived a lot in his head, it just reinforced that tendency.

EMDR was a game changer—for me personally, and in my work with clients. It helped integrate what the body was saying, not just the mind. And that felt more honest to what trauma really is: a full-body, lived experience.

EMDR and the power of integration

Even though EMDR follows a structured protocol, my clients often benefit most when we combine it with more relational approaches like Internal Family Systems (IFS) or “parts work.” In my practice, this integration has helped reduce symptoms of PTSD and anxiety, and in some cases, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as well.

The clients I work with often carry histories of childhood abuse or neglect, sexual assault, religious trauma, foster care or adoption, bullying, workplace or car accidents, and long-term discrimination as LGBTQ+ folks, racialized people, or immigrants.

What EMDR can—and can’t—do

I don’t believe any single therapy, including EMDR, is a magic fix. But I do believe EMDR and relational therapies like IFS can help people build capacity—for connection, regulation, and feeling more at home in their own bodies.

One of my greatest influences is Dr. Judith Herman, a feminist psychiatrist who helped the field understand complex PTSD. In her 1992 book Trauma and Recovery, she wrote:

“Recovery can only take place within the context of relationships; it cannot occur in isolation.”

That’s the heart of it for me. Therapy isn’t supposed to be your only secure relationship. It’s a space to grow your capacity for connection—with yourself and others. That might mean building trust, navigating conflict without abandoning yourself, or learning to feel safe in your body again. And along the way, many people do see symptoms like anxiety or PTSD begin to shift.

If EMDR doesn’t work for you…

Sometimes EMDR isn’t the right fit. That could be because of other mental health or physical health needs, or simply because it doesn’t resonate with where you are right now. That’s not a failure. Let me say it again: that is not a failure.

Our job as therapists isn’t to force a model on you. It’s to partner with you, get curious, and find what works best for your healing. Sometimes that might even mean referring you to someone else whose approach may be a better fit—and that’s okay.

Interested in EMDR?

If this resonates with you, I encourage you to find a Certified EMDR therapist. The best place to start is the EMDRIA provider directory.

If you’re in New Jersey, Tennessee, or South Carolina, feel free to reach out. I’d love to explore whether we’d be a good fit.

You can visit my Services or Contact pages to learn more.

References

1. Lewey, J., Smith, C., Burcham, B., Saunders, N., Elfallal, D., & O’Toole, S. (2018). Comparing the Effectiveness of EMDR and TF-CBT for Children and Adolescents: a Meta-Analysis. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 11, 457 - 472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-018-0212-1.

2. Seidler, G., & Wagner, F. (2006). Comparing the efficacy of EMDR and trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of PTSD: a meta-analytic study. Psychological Medicine, 36, 1515 - 1522. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291706007963.

3. Yunitri, N., Chu, H., Kang, X., Wiratama, B., Lee, T., Chang, L., Liu, D., Kustanti, C., Chiang, K., Chen, R., Tseng, P., & Chou, K. (2023). Comparative effectiveness of psychotherapies in adults with posttraumatic stress disorder: a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Psychological Medicine, 53, 6376 - 6388. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291722003737.

4. Liang, X., Chen, L., Zhang, G., & Hu, M. (2015). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Versus Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adult Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 203, 443–451. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0000000000000306.

5. Perlini, C., Donisi, V., Rossetti, M., Moltrasio, C., Bellani, M., & Brambilla, P. (2020). The potential role of EMDR on trauma in affective disorders: A narrative review.. Journal of Affective Disorders, 269, 1-11 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.03.001.

6. Meentken, M., Van Der Mheen, M., Van Beynum, I., Aendekerk, E., Legerstee, J., Van Der Ende, J., Del Canho, R., Lindauer, R., Hillegers, M., Moll, H., Helbing, W., & Utens, E. (2020). EMDR for children with medically related subthreshold PTSD: short-term effects on PTSD, blood-injection-injury phobia, depression and sleep. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2019.1705598.

7. Tesarz, J., Leisner, S., Gerhardt, A., Janke, S., Seidler, G., Eich, W., & Hartmann, M. (2014). Effects of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment in chronic pain patients: a systematic review.. Pain medicine, 15 2, 247-63 . https://doi.org/10.1111/pme.12303.

8. Scelles, C., & Bulnes, L. (2021). EMDR as Treatment Option for Conditions Other Than PTSD: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.644369.

9. Paauw, C., De Roos, C., Koornneef, M., Elzinga, B., Boorsma, T., Verheij, M., & Dingemans, A. (2023). Eye movement desensitization and processing for adolescents with major depressive disorder: study protocol for a multi-site randomized controlled trial. Trials, 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-023-07226-y.