EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy is an interactive psychotherapy technique used to relieve psychological stress. It involves attention to three time periods: the past, present, and future, and consists of eight phases that occur over multiple sessions.

During EMDR therapy, clinical observations suggest that an accelerated learning process is stimulated by EMDR’s standardized procedures, which incorporate the use of eye movements and other forms of bilateral stimulation. EMDR therapy helps children and adults of all ages address a wide range of challenges, such as PTSD, trauma-related mental health symptoms, and alcohol or substance dependence comorbid with posttraumatic stress disorder.

In the United States, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense list EMDR as a “best practice” in treating veterans experiencing PTSD. Most people undergo EMDR for several weeks to a few months with minimal recovery time between sessions.