Navigating Phase Two of EMDR: Preparation; Building Safety and Trust
As a humanistic therapist who works closely with individuals recovering from trauma, I’ve witnessed firsthand how EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can transform lives. While Phase One of EMDR focuses on laying the groundwork—establishing safety, understanding the client’s history, and identifying goals—Phase Two is about fortifying that foundation and ensuring that the client feels emotionally stable and empowered before delving deeper into processing trauma.
In my experience, Phase Two is often one of the most pivotal stages of EMDR. It’s about building a sense of safety and trust, both with the therapist and within oneself. It’s essential because, without this foundation, reprocessing traumatic memories in later phases can feel overwhelming and destabilizing. As a therapist, my job is to help the client feel ready, confident, and equipped to handle the emotional work ahead.
Phase Two: Preparing for the Healing Journey
In Phase Two, we shift focus toward stabilization. The work we do here sets the stage for the intense emotional processing that will happen in the next phases of EMDR. We’re not yet reprocessing memories, but we are strengthening the client's internal resources and their capacity to manage distressing emotions.
From a humanistic perspective, my role is to create a supportive, non-judgmental space where the client can express their feelings, concerns, and hopes without fear of invalidation. I encourage open communication, so the client feels heard and understood throughout this process.
Establishing Emotional Regulation Skills
One of the core elements of Phase Two is helping the client develop emotional regulation skills. This means equipping them with tools to manage and calm themselves when intense emotions arise, both within and outside of sessions. EMDR itself can stir up deep emotions, so emotional regulation becomes vital for the client’s sense of safety.
There are many techniques we might use here, depending on the client's preferences and needs. Common tools include:
Grounding exercises: Helping clients stay present in their bodies during overwhelming moments, whether through mindfulness or simple breathing exercises.
Self-soothing techniques: Teaching clients how to comfort themselves, such as visualizing a safe space or engaging in compassionate self-talk.
Relaxation strategies: Techniques like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery that allow clients to lower their overall level of tension and anxiety.
These tools are not just helpful during the sessions but are meant to become part of the client's everyday toolkit. By practicing these techniques regularly, clients can feel more in control of their emotional experience when distressing memories are reprocessed in the later phases of EMDR.
Resource Installation: Strengthening Internal Support
A key part of Phase Two is what we call resource installation. This involves helping the client identify and strengthen positive, adaptive resources within themselves that they can rely on when they feel triggered or overwhelmed.
From a humanistic perspective, I view these internal resources as strengths—often untapped or underutilized—such as feelings of inner calm, resilience, compassion, or even moments of joy or safety in their lives. In many cases, clients don’t realize how capable they are until they are reminded of their inherent resources. Sometimes, a client might need help reconnecting to positive memories or strengths that can counterbalance the negative beliefs they’ve formed as a result of their trauma.
For example, I might guide a client through an exercise where they visualize a moment in their life when they felt truly safe or at peace. I help them amplify that sense of safety by asking questions like, "What did you see, hear, or feel during that moment?" The goal is for clients to internalize that sense of security and use it as a resource during more challenging moments later in therapy.
Instilling a Safe Place: A Central EMDR Tool
One of the most important resources I work on with clients during Phase Two is the Safe Place visualization. This is a powerful tool that helps clients establish an internal mental sanctuary where they can retreat if they feel overwhelmed. The safe place can be a real or imagined location, such as a peaceful beach, a serene garden, or even a comforting memory from their past.
The key here is not just imagining a safe space, but learning to anchor it: using the senses to make the experience vivid and concrete. When clients feel distressed, they can return to this place in their minds, using the mental imagery to calm themselves and restore a sense of control. This tool is not just a distraction; it’s a grounding technique that can foster emotional resilience when past trauma surfaces.
Building Self-Compassion and Connection
From a humanistic standpoint, Phase Two is also about fostering self-compassion. Traumatized clients often struggle with feelings of shame, guilt, or self-blame. Part of my role as a therapist is to help clients reframe their experiences and recognize that they were not to blame for their trauma.
We might work on exercises that invite clients to speak kindly to themselves, or challenge negative, self-critical thoughts. This phase is about creating a more self-affirming internal dialogue that will carry over into the deeper work of trauma reprocessing in future phases of EMDR.
Furthermore, I encourage clients to explore their attachment to others. Often, trauma can distort a person’s ability to connect with others in a healthy way, leading to feelings of isolation or mistrust. Building a safe, trusting relationship with me, as their therapist, becomes an important reparative experience. But this is also about strengthening their ability to form positive, supportive relationships outside of therapy.
Assessing Readiness for Reprocessing
By the end of Phase Two, our goal is to make sure the client feels ready to begin reprocessing the traumatic memories. We’ll spend time checking in to see if the client feels emotionally stable, confident in using their coping tools, and prepared to confront distressing memories when necessary.
In some cases, Phase Two can take several sessions, especially for clients who have experienced complex trauma or have difficulty accessing their internal resources. That’s okay. Every client is different, and I work at the pace that best supports their healing process. Phase Two ensures that when the time comes to reprocess trauma in later phases of EMDR, the client is equipped with the tools, stability, and internal support they need to face the work with resilience and hope.
In Conclusion: The Power of Preparation
Phase Two of EMDR is not about rushing into the trauma work; it’s about preparation and empowerment. It’s about ensuring that clients have the tools, internal resources, and emotional regulation strategies to navigate the challenges that lie ahead. As a therapist, my role is to guide them gently through this phase, fostering safety, self-compassion, and readiness.
When clients have a solid foundation, they are far more likely to experience lasting, positive change as they progress through the later phases of EMDR. This phase provides the necessary space for clients to reconnect with their own strengths and resilience, giving them the confidence to heal from the inside out.
Interested in finding out how EMDR can help? Get in touch!
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Want to find out what’s next? Check out Phase 3!
References:
Shapiro, F. (2017). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy: An Integrated Approach to Treatment. Guilford Press.
Solomon, R. M., & Shapiro, F. (2008). EMDR and the Adaptive Information Processing model: Integration of EMDR with other therapeutic modalities. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 64(7), 848–858.
