In the bustling market of mental health services, you may have seen therapists advertising “fast EMDR therapy results” or promising that EMDR will “fix” trauma in just a few sessions. While EMDR therapy is a powerful, efficient, and often shorter-term intervention than traditional talk therapy, guaranteeing outcomes without meeting a client first is both misleading and unethical. This blog explains why these promises are problematic, what the research actually says, and how a responsible therapist should approach the use of EMDR. This blog is written by our EMDR-Certified and EMDR-Approved Consultant (both by EMDRIA), Jordan Nodelman, LCSW, LICSW, Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work.
The Danger of Fast Promises in Mental Health
The push to market EMDR therapy as a “quick fix” is understandable. Clients are often desperate for relief—and understandably drawn to any promise of speed. But therapy is not a product on a shelf. It’s a deeply personal, relational, and complex process that can’t be accurately packaged into a timeline before a clinical assessment is done.
Promising rapid results before meeting a client is equivalent to a doctor prescribing medication before doing an exam. Not only is it irresponsible, but it may also lead to harm, disappointment, and mistrust. As trauma therapist Janina Fisher (2021) reminds us, “slower is faster” when it comes to healing trauma—because going too fast can overwhelm the nervous system and retraumatize rather than relieve. When I first meet clients we discuss this idea (Fisher 2021) and I have never had a client leave an intake session thinking otherwise after full understanding of the brain and EMDR.
What the Research Says About EMDR’s Efficiency—And Its Limits
It’s true that EMDR therapy has been shown to be faster than some traditional therapies, particularly for single-incident trauma. A meta-analysis by Chen et al. (2014) found that EMDR could reduce PTSD symptoms in fewer sessions than cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, those findings come with significant nuance. And in practice, I have seen single-incident trauma cases heal very quickly, sometimes in as little as one to two months.
Many clients—especially those with complex trauma, childhood neglect, or multiple stressors—require longer preparation phases before reprocessing can begin. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA, 2023) emphasizes that effective EMDR depends on thorough assessment, stabilization, and individualized pacing. Let me be clear, preparation is key! I have had some of my more complex patients in preparation phase for years, while others take less than one session to complete this phase. One scenario is not indicating someone is stronger or less resilient than the other scenario. What is demonstrates is the range of experiences patients come with to EMDR. No one human is the same and no one human has the same trauma experiences, number of traumas, or responds the same way to traumatic situations.
A 2022 study by Salters-Pedneault et al. showed that even among clients with PTSD, the range of treatment length varied significantly depending on trauma history, attachment style, and emotional regulation skills. There is no universal treatment timeline. And that applies to ANY therapy. ANY.
Trauma Healing Is Not a Product: The Harm of Upselling Therapy
Promising fast results is often part of a larger marketing strategy that echoes upselling in consumer culture—like pushing the “deluxe car wash” before seeing how dirty the car is. But therapy isn’t a commodity, and clients aren’t customers—they’re humans seeking healing.
Imagine walking into a mechanic with an unusual noise in your car and being told you need a $2,000 repair without them looking under the hood. Most people would be suspicious. Yet in mental health, these blanket guarantees happen all the time. I see it everywhere, on websites, in mailers, advertisements, social media (especially), and from well-meaning clinicians who are not versed in how EMDR really works. I also see it with hypnosis, with Rapid Resolution therapy, with CBT, with Solutions-Focused therapy, etc….
Ethical therapists understand that trauma work isn’t transactional. Promising fast EMDR results not only disrespects the therapeutic relationship (referred to as an alliance)—it also sets clients up for failure, shame, and self-blame if healing takes longer than promised. I have had clients come to me from other EMDR clinicians who made false promises. I promise it does more harm and often requires addressing those experiences prior to getting to the work of reprocessing and metabolizing the trauma history.
The Illusion of Speed in AI-Based EMDR Platforms
Another concerning trend is the rise of AI-based EMDR therapy platforms that claim to offer fast, self-guided trauma resolution without human interaction. While AI has promising applications in mental health—like journaling prompts, symptom tracking, or mindfulness exercises—there is currently no peer-reviewed evidence showing that AI-based EMDR platforms are safe, effective, or ethical substitutes for human-led EMDR therapy. At least I couldn’t find any.
Trauma healing requires attunement, co-regulation, and nuanced decision-making—capacities that AI, as of now, simply cannot replicate (van der Kolk, 2014). The risk of retraumatization is real if clients engage in reprocessing without proper preparation or containment.
AI might be able to mimic EMDR protocols, but it cannot recognize signs of dissociation, modulate emotional intensity in real time, or offer the empathetic presence that research shows is key to healing (Norcross & Wampold, 2011). And what I find even more troubling is many of these platforms fall under the radar of state regulating boards, meaning there is ZERO oversight. Some even have “coaches” available for text chats. (I’m scratching my head.)
Slower Is Faster: The Wisdom of Pacing in EMDR Therapy
The old adage from trauma-informed care—“slower is faster”—applies deeply to EMDR therapy. Trying to rush the process can bypass necessary preparation, cause emotional flooding, and even stall progress.
Responsible EMDR therapists understand that healing is not a race. By going at the pace your nervous system can tolerate, EMDR becomes a safer, more effective intervention—and often still shorter in duration than traditional therapy when done ethically and with proper assessment.
What Ethical EMDR Therapy Looks Like
Here’s what you should expect from an ethical EMDR therapist:
- A full clinical intake and assessment before offering a treatment timeline
- A clear explanation of the EMDR process, including potential risks and the need for preparation
- Transparency about the limits of EMDR in your unique case
- No pressure to buy packages or promise guaranteed results**
**Please note that I do offer intensives for EMDR (multi-hour format) but I never offer them without a traditional assessment and in most cases only to established clients. They are revolutionary, when correctly assessed.
In an achievement-driven culture, it can be tempting to look for therapy solutions that match the speed of your lifestyle. But healing isn’t about speed—it’s about depth, safety, and transformation.
In conclusion, EMDR therapy is a revolutionary approach when delivered with care, integrity, and respect for the complexity of human trauma. Beware of fast-fix marketing, AI-driven shortcuts, and “guaranteed results” language. Trust instead in trauma-informed providers who understand that healing takes what it takes—and that, paradoxically, slowing down is often the fastest way through.
References
Chen, Y. R., Hung, K. W., Tsai, J. C., Chu, H., Chung, M. H., Chen, S. R., & Chou, K. R. (2014). Efficacy of Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for Patients with Posttraumatic-Stress Disorder: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. PLoS ONE, 9(8), e103676. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0103676
EMDR International Association. (2023). Clinical Guidelines and Standards of Practice. https://www.emdria.org
Fisher, J. (2021). Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma: A Workbook for Survivors and Therapists. PESI Publishing.
Norcross, J. C., & Wampold, B. E. (2011). Evidence-based therapy relationships: Research conclusions and clinical practices. Psychotherapy, 48(1), 98–102. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022161
Salters-Pedneault, K., et al. (2022). Individual Differences in Trauma Processing Speed in EMDR Therapy. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 35(2), 376–388. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22785
van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking.
