EMDR Myths and Facts: What It Is (and Isn’t)

EMDR has a bit of a reputation for sounding woo-woo. It isn’t. Let’s bust the myths I hear most.

Myth: EMDR is hypnosis

Fact: You’re fully awake, aware, and in control the entire time. EMDR isn’t hypnosis and I can’t make you do or say anything. You can stop at any point.

Myth: EMDR erases your memories

Fact: Nothing gets erased. You’ll still remember what happened — it just won’t grip your body the same way. The goal is that recalling it feels like the past, not a live threat.

Myth: It’s just waving fingers around

Fact: The bilateral stimulation is one piece of a structured, eight-phase protocol. Most of the work is the preparation, targeting, and integration around it.

Myth: You have to relive everything in detail

Fact: You don’t. EMDR is actually gentler than a lot of talk therapy for trauma because you don’t have to narrate every detail out loud to benefit.