Is EMDR a Scam? What the Science Really Says

If you’ve ever seen someone online say EMDR “healed their trauma,” it’s natural to feel skeptical. It almost sounds too good to be true, like some kind of emotional snake oil.

So let’s ask the question head-on:

Is EMDR a scam?

Actually, no. In fact, EMDR is one of the most well-researched and neurologically backed trauma therapies available today. But to understand why it works (and why it can feel like magic), we need to look at how the brain stores trauma and why traditional talk therapy often isn’t enough.

What Is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps people resolve unprocessed trauma, anxiety, panic, and other emotional stuck points. Unlike traditional therapy that relies on storytelling and insight, EMDR works directly with the nervous system using a technique called bilateral stimulation often through rapid eye movements, tapping, or tones.

Instead of talking through trauma over and over, EMDR helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer carry the same emotional charge.

Why We Stay Stuck: A Brain-Based Explanation

Here’s what actually happens neurologically when trauma gets “trapped” in the body:

When a disturbing event happens especially in childhood or under extreme stress the brain doesn’t always process it the way it would a normal experience. Instead of integrating it into your timeline like a regular memory, the brain freezes the event, storing it with the original images, emotions, beliefs, and body sensations.

This happens because trauma often overwhelms the brain’s ability to link the experience across both hemispheres.

• The right hemisphere which processes emotion, body sensation, and images—stores the traumatic material as raw, unfiltered experience.

• The left hemisphere, responsible for logic, language, and meaning-making, often goes offline in moments of high stress.

So the memory becomes trapped like an emotional file saved without a name, date, or explanation. And because it hasn’t been fully processed, it keeps getting re-triggered by anything that reminds the nervous system of that original threat.

Meanwhile, the left brain already has most of the information needed to resolve the issue your adult understanding, safety, and insight. But the two sides aren’t communicating.

How EMDR Works: Reconnecting the Brain

EMDR helps rewire this disconnect. Through guided bilateral stimulation—typically eye movements that mimic the brain’s activity during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep—the brain begins to reprocess the stuck material.

Here’s what’s happening:

Traumatic memories can get stored in the brain in isolation—frozen in time with the original images, emotions, thoughts, and body sensations. When they’re stuck like this, the nervous system keeps reacting as if the event is still happening. That’s why the same emotional triggers keep showing up, even years later.

Meanwhile, another part of your brain already knows how to make sense of what happened but it can’t access the memory because the two hemispheres aren’t working together. EMDR helps bridge that gap. As bilateral stimulation activates both sides of the brain, new information, insights, and emotional clarity begin to emerge.

This is similar to what happens naturally during REM sleep, when the brain processes and organizes emotional experiences without conscious effort. EMDR essentially taps into that same neurological mechanism—on purpose, while you’re fully awake and safely guided by a trained therapist.

Is EMDR Legit or Just Hype?

EMDR isn’t new. It was developed in 1987 by Dr. Francine Shapiro and has since become one of the most thoroughly researched trauma therapies in the world. It’s:

• Approved by the American Psychological Association (APA)

• Endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO)

• Used by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

• Supported by over 30+ randomized controlled trials

Research has shown EMDR to be highly effective for treating:

• PTSD and childhood trauma

• Anxiety and panic attacks

• Phobias

• Grief

• Chronic pain and somatic symptoms

So no it’s not a scam. But it is a specialized treatment that should only be done with a trained professional who understands trauma, nervous system regulation, and emotional safety.

What Does an EMDR Session Feel Like?

During a session, you’ll focus on a disturbing memory and belief while following a set of eye movements, sounds, or taps guided by your therapist. You don’t have to talk through every detail in fact, you can process silently if needed.

As the session progresses, you may notice:

• The memory feels “further away” or less emotionally intense

• New insights come up that change how you see the event

• Emotions move through your body and release without reliving the trauma

• A greater sense of peace or closure around the issue

Many clients describe it as fast, strange, and deeply transformative.

Ready to Try It?

If you're in Colorado, I offer trauma-focused EMDR sessions for adults dealing with anxiety, childhood trauma, or emotional triggers that won’t seem to go away.

And if you’re outside of Colorado, I offer nervous system-based coaching that incorporates EMDR-informed techniques like bilateral stimulation, belief rewiring, and emotional reset tools.

→ Ready to explore if this is right for you? Book a free consult or reach out through my site. Let’s get your brain and your life unstuck.