In the world of trauma recovery, there is often a sense of urgency. When a client finally decides to address their past, they often want to dive straight into the “heavy lifting” of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing).
Empirically speaking, we can move quickly into the reprocessing phases of EMDR. However, in clinical practice, we know that a brain in a state of constant high-alert cannot effectively integrate new information. To move forward safely, we must first help the client restore balance through self-regulation and human connectedness.
The Science of the “Window of Tolerance”
For EMDR to be effective, a client must stay within their Window of Tolerance—a state where they can feel their emotions without being overwhelmed (hyper-arousal) or shutting down (hypo-arousal).
If we jump into reprocessing while a client is chronically dysregulated, we risk re-traumatization. Research shows that the therapeutic relationship and the client’s internal stability are the foundations upon which the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model sits (Shapiro, 2017). Without a “safe container,” the brain’s threat system remains too active to allow for the neural reorganization required for healing.
Why Connectedness is a Biological Prerequisite
We often think of self-regulation as something we do alone (like deep breathing), but humans are biologically wired for co-regulation.
In an EMDR context, the “connectedness” between the therapist and the client isn’t just a “nice-to-have” rapport—it is a physiological signal to the client’s amygdala that it is safe to let its guard down.
When a client feels truly seen and supported, their Social Engagement System (managed by the ventral vagus nerve) comes online. This state of connectedness provides the “anchor” needed to revisit traumatic memories without being swept away by them (Korn, 2009).
The “Preparation Phase” is Not a Delay
In the standard EMDR 8-phase protocol, Phase 2 (Preparation) is dedicated to building these regulation skills. While it may feel like a “waiting period,” it is actually an essential part of the healing process:
- Skill Building: Clients learn “Grounding” and “Safe/Calm Place” techniques to manage distress in real-time (Hase et al., 2017).
- Resource Development: We install “resources”—mental representations of strength, protection, or wisdom—to bolster the nervous system (Korn, 2009).
- Stabilization: By lowering the baseline of daily anxiety, we ensure the brain has the “metabolic fuel” required for the intense work of reprocessing.
The Bottom Line: Slow is Fast
In EMDR, there is a common saying: “To go fast, we must go slow.” By prioritizing self-regulation and the therapeutic bond first, we aren’t just following a clinical best practice; we are honoring the biology of the human spirit. We are ensuring that when we do enter the trauma memories, the client has the internal and external resources to come back out again, changed but whole.
Rerences:
- Hase, M., Schallmayer, S., & Sack, M. (2017). The effects of EMDR on the somatic level: A backward glance. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1023. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01023
- Korn, D. L. (2009). EMDR and the treatment of complex PTSD: A review. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 3(4), 254–268. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.3.4.254
- Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation. W. W. Norton & Company.
- Shapiro, F. (2017). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
- Solomon, R. M., & Shapiro, F. (2008). EMDR and the Adaptive Information Processing model: Potential mechanisms of change. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 2(4), 315–325. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.2.4.315
