Phase Four of EMDR: The Power of Desensitization in Trauma Healing
As a humanistic therapist, one of the most rewarding aspects of working with clients is witnessing their journey toward emotional healing and self-empowerment. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) has become one of the most effective tools I use to help clients reprocess trauma and reduce the emotional charge tied to painful memories.
After we’ve done the foundational work in earlier phases—particularly in Phase One (History and Planning), Phase Two (Preparation and Stabilization), and Phase Three (Assessment)—we finally arrive at Phase Four: Desensitization. This is the phase where we begin to address the emotional intensity of traumatic memories, helping clients reduce the distress they feel when recalling past experiences. In this phase, the goal is to help clients experience these memories without the overwhelming negative emotional charge that has kept them stuck in the past.
Phase Four: Desensitization — Reducing the Emotional Charge of Trauma
In Phase Four, we focus on desensitizing the emotional charge tied to the target memories that we’ve identified in the previous phase. Trauma tends to leave us with memories that are not just disturbing because of their content but because of the intense emotional response they provoke. When we think of a traumatic experience, the body might react with physical sensations—tightness, dizziness, panic—and the mind might become overwhelmed by negative thoughts and beliefs.
The goal of desensitization is to help the brain process and integrate the memory so that it no longer triggers such intense distress. This doesn’t mean erasing the memory—it means reducing the emotional charge around it so that the individual can remember the event without feeling stuck in the same emotional pattern.
The Desensitization Process: How It Works
The desensitization process in EMDR is closely linked to the use of bilateral stimulation (BLS), which is a hallmark of EMDR therapy. Bilateral stimulation typically involves alternating left- and right-eye movements, tactile tapping, or auditory tones. This stimulation helps the brain process and refile the traumatic memory into a more adaptive, less emotionally charged format.
Here’s how the desensitization phase typically unfolds:
Focusing on the Target Memory:
In this phase, the client brings the target memory into focus. This means recalling the specific image, the feelings, and the associated negative beliefs we identified earlier. For example, if the target memory is related to a car accident, the client might focus on the image of the crash or the fear they felt during that moment.
As the client holds the memory in their mind, they are guided through a set of bilateral stimulation (BLS). This can involve the therapist guiding the client’s eyes to move back and forth across their visual field (eye movements), or it could involve tapping or auditory sounds. The goal of this is to stimulate both sides of the brain, which helps process the memory and allows it to be integrated more effectively.
The Processing of Emotion:
As the client continues to focus on the memory, they may experience a range of emotional responses. These could include physical sensations, shifts in emotional intensity, or changes in how they perceive the memory. For example, a memory that once felt overwhelming might begin to feel distant, neutral, or less intense.
Throughout the desensitization process, the therapist checks in with the client to see how the emotional charge of the memory is shifting. The client is asked to rate their distress using the Subjective Units of Disturbance (SUD) scale, with 0 being no distress and 10 being the highest level of distress. The aim is for the SUD score to decrease, ideally to a level of 0 or 1 by the end of the desensitization process.
Allowing New Associations:
As the distress lessens, the brain begins to refile the traumatic memory in a less disturbing way. New, more adaptive associations can form. For instance, the client may come to see the memory not as an event that defines their worth, but as something that happened in the past, no longer holding emotional power over them.
During the process, it’s common for clients to have new insights or feelings of relief. This is a sign that the memory is being processed, and the negative emotions tied to it are beginning to diminish. The key here is that the client doesn’t simply forget the memory—they begin to relate to it differently.
Reevaluating the Memory:
After the desensitization process, the therapist asks the client to think back on the memory and assess the level of distress they experience. If the SUD level has decreased significantly (usually to a 1 or 2), this indicates that the memory has been successfully desensitized. The client should now be able to think about the memory without experiencing the same intense emotional reaction they did before the process began.
If the emotional intensity hasn’t decreased enough, further rounds of bilateral stimulation might be necessary to continue processing the memory. The process can be repeated multiple times, allowing the client to gradually desensitize the memory until it no longer holds the same emotional power.
The Role of the Therapist in Phase Four: Guiding the Process with Compassion
As a therapist in Phase Four, my role is to provide emotional safety and guidance as the client processes their memories. I help create a space where the client feels empowered to face the memory and the associated emotions without being overwhelmed. I also help regulate the pace of the work. Desensitization isn’t about rushing the process—it’s about moving at a pace that feels right for the client.
A big part of my job is to monitor the client’s emotional responses and ensure that they are not getting stuck in distress but are making progress toward reducing their emotional charge. Sometimes, clients may experience resistance, emotional blocks, or unexpected feelings during this phase. It’s my job to help them stay grounded and manage these moments with patience and compassion.
The Emotional Shifts That Can Happen in Phase Four
During Phase Four, clients often experience profound emotional shifts. For example, a client who initially felt paralyzed by a traumatic memory may find that, by the end of desensitization, they are able to remember the event without feeling overwhelmed by shame, guilt, or fear.
Clients may also notice physical shifts, such as a release of tension or a sense of calmness that replaces the initial feeling of anxiety or panic. These changes are signs that the memory is being processed effectively and integrated in a healthier, less distressing way.
Over time, this emotional desensitization leads to a new sense of empowerment. Clients report feeling more grounded, present, and less reactive when recalling the traumatic events. The memory no longer holds the same intrusive power over their thoughts, emotions, or behavior.
What Clients Can Expect During Phase Four
Clients may feel a variety of things during the desensitization phase. Some may feel emotionally drained or physically tired after processing a traumatic memory, while others may experience a sense of relief or even emotional release (like tears or laughter). Some clients may also experience new insights into the memory or how it has impacted their beliefs or life choices.
It’s important to remember that desensitization is not about erasing the memory or the pain—it’s about helping clients reclaim control over their emotional responses. By reducing the distress associated with the memory, clients can move through life with more emotional resilience and a greater sense of agency.
In Conclusion: Desensitization as the Path to Healing
Phase Four of EMDR—Desensitization—is a critical phase in trauma healing. It’s where the emotional intensity tied to traumatic memories is reduced, allowing clients to recall those memories without being overwhelmed by the feelings of distress, shame, or fear that once accompanied them. By processing the memory through bilateral stimulation, the brain can refile the memory in a way that no longer disrupts the client’s emotional well-being.
For me as a therapist, Phase Four is incredibly fulfilling. It’s where I witness clients shift from feeling trapped by their trauma to feeling empowered and capable of handling life’s challenges. While the journey isn’t always easy, the freedom that comes from desensitizing trauma is profound. It’s a step toward emotional healing and self-empowerment—a shift that paves the way for greater peace and clarity moving forward.
Interested in finding out how EMDR can help? Get in touch!
Want to find out more about EMDR?
Want to find out what’s next? Check out Phase 5!
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.
