OPENER
It is impossible to control trauma memories. They invade your mind when you least expect it, and it is difficult to control your emotional reaction to them without getting emotionally upset and overwhelmed.
PART 1
EMDR uses techniques to blunt those memories so when they pop up you are not disabled with negative emotions. EMDR does this through right-left stimulation of the brain, while you consciously bring up bad memories. The right-left stimulation is done through eye movement and is like watching ping pong or playing drums on your computer. It can also be done with tapping so you can use this technique when you need it.
PART 2
EMDR does not teach you how to change your thoughts and feelings about a memory, instead we think it changes your “memory storage” by making those memories less intense. As a result, you are less emotionally overwhelmed. Then you can introduce more positive thinking. EMDR is used with talk therapy and makes it more comfortable to talk about trauma. Research suggests that EMDR can speed up the progress of talk therapy.