Alright, let’s cut to the chase: How long is this EMDR thing going to take? You’ve probably heard that Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can be an effective treatment for PTSD, but I’m guessing you’re wondering, “How many sessions am I going to need before I can stop awkwardly following your hand with my eyes and get back to living my life?” Fair question. As a therapist, I get asked this a lot, and the answer is, well, it depends. I know, I know—not what you wanted to hear. But bear with me, I promise I’ll break it down so it all makes sense.

First, Let’s Understand What You’re Up Against

Before we dive into how long EMDR treatment takes, let’s talk about why you’re here in the first place: PTSD. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is like that unwanted guest who overstays their welcome—you didn’t invite it, it’s disruptive, and it lingers long after the event is over. Some people have one clear trauma, while others have complex trauma, built up over years. It’s important to understand that no two brains process trauma in the same way.

So, when we talk about how long EMDR will take, we’re talking about how long it takes your brain to process your trauma. This is therapy, not a drive-thru; there’s no “one-size-fits-all” approach. That said, I’ll give you a better idea of what you’re getting into.

The 8-Phase Approach: Like a Slow-Cooker, Not a Microwave

EMDR follows an 8-phase treatment process, and no, we don’t jump straight to the juicy trauma-processing bit. Think of this like preparing a meal—you can’t just throw the ingredients in a pot and expect a gourmet meal five minutes later. (Trust me, I’ve tried.) EMDR is more of a slow-cooker process, where we take time to set things up properly before we start cooking the tough stuff.

1. History-taking and assessment – This is where I’ll ask you a lot of questions about your past, so get ready to spill the tea. We’re going to figure out which traumatic memories are triggering your symptoms. Depending on your history, this phase could be quick, or it could take a few sessions.
2. Preparation – Here, we work on building a strong therapeutic relationship and making sure you have the tools to handle tough emotions. We’re not diving into trauma until we know you’ve got coping strategies in place. Sometimes people come in with great emotional regulation skills; other times, we need to build them up first.

So, How Long Does EMDR Take for PTSD?

Alright, here’s the part you really want to know. On average, most people with single-incident trauma—like a car accident or a specific event—can expect to spend between 6 to 12 sessions on EMDR. Yes, you read that right. For many, that’s all it takes to move past a traumatic memory.

But, if you’re dealing with complex trauma—say, from years of abuse or repeated traumatic events—it’s going to take longer. I’m talking about several months to over a year. And before you gasp in horror at that timeline, remember, you didn’t accumulate this trauma overnight, so it’s not going to disappear with the wave of a magic wand (or my hand, for that matter).

Also, we’re not doing deep trauma work in every session. Sometimes, we’re just stabilizing your emotions, building trust, or taking a break because, well, trauma processing is emotionally taxing. Think of it as training for a marathon—you can’t sprint through every single mile, or you’ll burn out before you hit the finish line.

How Will You Know When You’re Done?

This is where things get interesting—and no, you don’t get a certificate or a shiny gold star when you “finish” EMDR (though if you’re into that, I can get creative). You’ll know EMDR has worked when you can think about your traumatic memory without feeling emotionally overwhelmed. The event will still be there—it’s not like we’re erasing it from your brain—but