How You Can Expect to Feel After EMDR Therapy

If you’re a woman who’s used to being the rock for everyone else such as your partner, kids, friends, work; it can be really tough to imagine making space and finding the time for your own healing. It’s likely you have spent years pushing down anxiety, brushing aside overwhelm, and telling yourself you’ll deal with it “later.” But you are at a breaking point and cannot go on like this anymore.

EMDR therapy offers a way to really face what’s weighing you down, without staying stuck in the past. But many people wonder: How will I feel afterward?

Let’s talk about what you can realistically expect after EMDR sessions—and why it might be the best gift you ever give yourself.

EMDR Isn’t About “Forgetting”. It’s About Healing

First, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) doesn’t erase memories. Instead, it helps your brain process them in a new, less distressing way. And, it allows you to create new, more adaptive beliefs about yourself.

You don’t lose who you are. You lose the constant emotional charge that keeps you anxious or overwhelmed.

After EMDR therapy, many clients describe feeling:

• Lighter – like a weight has been lifted

• Calmer – fewer racing thoughts

• More present – able to enjoy today without being hijacked by the past

The Emotional Waves Are Normal

Many women are surprised by the emotions that come up during or after EMDR.

You might feel relief. But you might also feel:

• Tired

• Tearful

• Vulnerable

This is normal. Your mind is reorganizing old memories and responses. It’s like cleaning out a messy closet: things can look messier before they’re truly tidy.

That’s why it helps to plan some space for yourself after sessions. Take a walk. Journal. Rest. Tell your loved ones you need a little downtime.

What Clients Often Report Over Time

With consistent EMDR sessions (or an intensive), many women begin to notice:

• Less anxiety in situations that used to trigger them

• Better sleep

• Greater confidence saying “no”

• More emotional balance—even in stressful times

One individual even shared she felt her Chi for the first time in a long time after an EMDR session.

It likely won’t make life perfect. But it makes it livable in a new way.

If you’ve been caring for everyone else first, you deserve that, too.

How EMDR Intensives Can Help You Prioritize Yourself

For women used to putting off their own care, EMDR intensives offer focused, accelerated progress.

Instead of months of weekly sessions, you dedicate uninterrupted time to your healing. It’s an investment in finally feeling like you again.

Ready to Explore EMDR Therapy in Portland?

If you’re in the Portland area or reside anywhere in Oregon and wondering if EMDR therapy for anxiety or trauma might help you, I’d be honored to talk.

Whether you’re considering weekly sessions or an intensive, you don’t have to keep carrying it all alone.

Schedule your free 15-minute consultation today to see if EMDR therapy is the next step in your healing journey.

You can contact me here.