Originally published on 11/19/25

More than 28 percent of women in the United States received mental health treatment or counseling in the past year. And one of the increasingly popular techniques is something known as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. In fact, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wivesstar Mikayla Matthews even shared her EMDR treatment experience on season three of the show, a therapy she used to help her work through sexual assault trauma. But what exactly is EMDR therapy, and how can it improve our everyday lives? We talked to an expert to learn more. 

What is EMDR therapy? 

EMDR therapy is a technique developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro, PhD, in 1987 that “uses bilateral stimulation, such as alternating eye movements. What that does is provides a buffer and mimics REM sleep where the brain naturally processes information. That way, when you revisit a traumatic event, it lets some of that traumatic material diffuse and lay down with less punch,” explains EMDR-trained therapist Mary Moore, LPC, Founder and Clinical Director of Lake Austin Psychotherapy in Austin, Texas.

Put simply, a patient recalls a traumatic or disturbing event while an EMDR therapist uses techniques such as guided eye movements to help desensitize them to the event and lessen the negative emotions surrounding it over time. (Check out the video below to learn more about how it works.)

“It’s used to treat trauma, PTSD and it can also help with depression, anxiety and even prolonged grief,” she continued. The Department of Defense even uses EMDR therapy to support veterans with PTSD. “It’s important to go to someone who’s specifically trained in EMDR, because it is structured and evidence-based and you want someone that isn’t going to monkey around with it.” 

Research backs up the effectiveness of EMDR therapy, and the World Health Organization recognizes it as a helpful way to treat trauma and PTSD. Proof it works: One of Shapiro’s studies published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress found that volunteers with traumatic memories who underwent EMDR therapy reported significantly less distress and more positive beliefs. Many were able to reduce or completely eliminate issues such as flashbacks, nightmares and intrusive thoughts within three months.

Why women over 50 should consider EMDR therapy

Beyond being an important tool to help manage mental health conditions and overcome past trauma, EMDR therapy sessions can help women over 50 learn who they are as they enter new chapters in life, Moore says. 

“EMDR can help people get to their deepest, most authentic self and resolve things that maybe they’ve been carrying that they didn’t even realize,” she explained. “I think it’s a real opportunity to resolve trauma, but also an opportunity for growth. Women in their 50s get to a point where they do start to think, ‘Okay, maybe it’s time for me now,’ and EMDR is a great way to start to uncover what that looks like.” 

How much do sessions cost? 

As with any type of therapy, the cost of EMDR varies based on the therapist and your insurance coverage. According to some estimates, a session can cost between $100 and $250 on average. Your best option is to check with your insurance provider, as many offer EMDR therapy coverage as part of their mental health benefits package. 

“What’s great about this protocol is that it’s extremely flexible and applicable to almost anyone,” Moore says. “You can also integrate it in your regular talk therapy. So you can see your regular therapist, and then you can go to an EMDR therapist who can lead you through this structured protocol. You can see the EMDR therapist for a few months or in addition to your regular therapy. It can be a supplement to make your talk therapy much richer.” 

How to find an EMDR therapist 

“The EMDR International Association is a great place to start to find EMDR therapists nationwide,” Moore emphasizes. They have a directory of more than 18,000 EMDR-trained therapists and offer a free search feature to connect you with one near you. “Don’t be afraid to ask a clinician for proof of their EMDR training, preferably from an outlet that is EMDRIA-approved, which means it holds EMDR clinicians to the highest standard of the protocol.” 

Once you decide on a therapist, make sure you feel comfortable enough with them to open up about what’s really bothering you. This is known as the therapeutic alliance, and this alignment is the biggest determinant in your therapeutic success.  It  helps ensure that you can actually get to the root of the problem and begin to heal. 

What to expect during EMDR therapy

“Your meetings can be in person or Zoom. In fact, EMDR therapy kind of translates beautifully on Zoom, because people can be in their own comfortable environment,” Moore says. “What you can expect [during your first session] is the therapist  going over your history and then setting up different ‘phases.’ 

“There will be a phase of preparation where you establish a safe, calm place that’s kind of like your stop lever, because in most of these events, you’re going to be possibly revisiting incidents or feelings that might feel uncomfortable. That’s something that the EMDR therapist is trained to manage. You definitely want to make sure that people are getting to the point of processing, but you always have that little stop gap there for the client to have a moment to regulate.” 

Some of the other phases of the therapy process include walking you through what to expect, establishing how a traumatic event makes you feel, the process of bilateral stimulation while instilling positive beliefs around that difficult event and eventually returning to that state of calm.

“People can get emotional, and most clients report that a lot of memories and thoughts come up that have been lost,” Moore shares. As EMDR therapy progresses, the “bilateral movement not only provides a bit of a buffer to the trauma by taxing your working memory, but the alternating sensory input can enhance communication between the brain regions which may awaken and resolve some of the deeper thoughts that are in the subconscious.” 

How long does EMDR therapy last?

Most EMDR sessions last for one hour, and according to Moore it takes most clients three to four sessions before they begin to feel less triggered and experience relief. “EMDR is a real opportunity to resolve calcified trauma in a safe, supported way so that therapy can be less about living in the past and more about experiencing growth,” she adds.

Link to original: https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/mental-health/how-emdr-therapy-is-helping-women-over-50-heal-old-wounds