The Eight Phases
EMDR is structured in eight phases, grouped into three stages. Understanding them all helps you see where this program fits and what lies ahead.
Phase 1 — History Taking: The therapist takes a detailed history. What brings you here? What are your goals? What traumatic experiences are you carrying? What are the patterns in your life? This phase identifies the targets for processing.
Phase 2 — Preparation: Stabilisation skills are built before processing begins. Calm Place, containment, window of tolerance awareness. The client learns to manage activation before they are asked to go near it intentionally.
Phase 3 — Assessment: The target memory is set up. Image, negative cognition, positive cognition, emotions, body sensation, SUD rating, VoC rating. Everything is measured before processing begins.
Phase 4 — Desensitisation: The core of EMDR processing. The client holds the target memory and its associated material while engaging in bilateral stimulation. Sets of BLS alternate with brief check-ins. Processing continues until disturbance reduces to 0 or 1.
Phase 5 — Installation: The positive cognition is strengthened. The therapist links the PC to the target memory with BLS until VoC reaches 6 or 7.
Phase 6 — Body Scan: The client scans their body for residual tension or sensation while holding both the memory and the positive cognition. Any remaining disturbance is processed.
Phase 7 — Closure: The session is closed safely, whether or not processing is complete. Stabilisation techniques are used if needed. The client is prepared for what may emerge between sessions.
Phase 8 — Re-evaluation: At the start of the next session, the therapist checks what happened after the last session. Has the processing continued? Are there new associations? This informs where to go next.