What Are the Most Common Reactions to EMDR Therapy?
You want to heal from what happened, but you’re not sure what EMDR therapy actually feels like — and that uncertainty makes the whole thing harder to step into. That’s completely normal. Most people want to know what to expect before starting EMDR therapy, including what reactions or side effects might occur during treatment.
While every nervous system responds a little differently, there are some very common reactions I see in my EMDR practice. (For therapists reading, these are the reactions you’re helping clients manage between sessions.) My goal here is to walk you through those reactions in a clear and reassuring way so you can better understand what’s happening in your nervous system and know what to expect during EMDR therapy.
If you’re thinking about starting EMDR therapy, the next step usually depends on what feels most uncertain right now:
• If you’re not sure what EMDR will feel like → it helps to understand the kinds of reactions people commonly have
• If you’re worried it might feel overwhelming or make things worse → it’s important to understand how EMDR is designed to be done safely and how therapists support you through the process
• If you’ve already started EMDR and are noticing reactions between sessions → knowing what’s normal, what to monitor, and when to reach out can help you decide what to do next
(For therapists, these are often the exact questions clients are bringing into session and between sessions.)
Common reactions to EMDR therapy may include:
fatigue after sessions
emotional waves such as sadness, anger, or grief
vivid dreams related to therapy themes
new insights emerging between sessions
temporary increases in anxiety or emotional sensitivity
physical sensations connected to memories
Every EMDR Therapy Session Is Different
Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee exactly how you’ll respond to EMDR therapy. In my experience as a psychologist, no two people, or two sessions, are ever the same. EMDR activates your brain’s natural healing system, helping you reprocess stored memories, sensations, and emotions so your nervous system can integrate them in a healthier way. Because each person’s trauma history and coping style are unique, your experience will be, too.
That’s also why I recommend avoiding an EMDR session the day before something important, like a big presentation or interview. Some people feel tired or emotionally raw afterward, while others feel calm and energized. There’s no “right” response, only what’s right for your nervous system in that moment.
Before we get into the common reactions I see, it can help to have a general sense of how EMDR works. Many people wonder what a session actually feels like, whether they’ll have to share every detail of their trauma, or what the eye movements, tapping, or tones are doing.
EMDR uses gentle, alternating forms of bilateral stimulation to help your brain reprocess memories in a more adaptive way. You stay fully aware and in control the entire time, and you don’t have to share anything you’re not comfortable sharing. If you’d like a clearer sense of how the full EMDR process works, you can learn more here. There’s a short video in that post that walks through all eight phases step by step.
If you’re looking for a broader overview of how EMDR treatment is structured, including preparation, reactions between sessions, and how different parts of the process fit together, you can explore that here:
→ EMDR Training & Treatment Hub
Reactions also vary because EMDR therapy works with your brain’s natural information processing system. Trauma memories are often stored in a fragmented way, with emotions, body sensations, and images that never fully integrated when the event occurred. EMDR helps your brain reconnect those pieces so the memory can be stored in a more adaptive way. As that integration happens, it’s normal for the nervous system to temporarily react while things are reorganizing.
Before EMDR processing begins, therapists spend time helping clients prepare for these kinds of reactions. In Phase 2 of EMDR therapy, we develop grounding and stabilization tools that help your nervous system stay regulated while memories are being processed. If it helps to see what that preparation looks like in more detail, I’ve outlined the stabilization skills used to manage reactions like these in the EMDR Phase 2: A Clear Guide to the Preparation Process.
Is EMDR Therapy Dangerous?
Many people considering EMDR therapy wonder whether it might make symptoms worse or feel overwhelming. This is a reasonable question, especially when trauma treatment involves revisiting difficult memories.
Serious adverse reactions are rare when EMDR is provided by a trained clinician who follows the full protocol and prepares clients before trauma processing begins. Temporary increases in emotions or trauma-related symptoms can sometimes occur early in treatment as the brain begins processing difficult experiences, but these reactions are usually short-term and tend to decrease as therapy continues.
Studies examining psychotherapy overall estimate that adverse events occur in roughly 5% of clients receiving therapy, though these are often not systematically monitored in research. When researchers specifically examine trauma-focused treatments for PTSD, including EMDR therapy, deterioration rates are typically below 1%, and temporary increases in symptoms early in treatment are not associated with worse long-term outcomes.
In practice, EMDR therapists spend time preparing clients with grounding and stabilization skills before trauma processing begins. This preparation helps ensure that clients can stay regulated and move through the process safely.
Are There Side Effects From EMDR Therapy?
Some people describe the short-term reactions to EMDR therapy as “side effects,” although therapists typically refer to them as normal processing reactions. Because EMDR activates the brain’s natural information processing system, it can temporarily bring up emotions, body sensations, or memories connected to the experience being worked through.
Common short-term side effects may include fatigue after sessions, vivid dreams, emotional sensitivity, or new insights that appear between sessions. These reactions are usually temporary and tend to decrease as the brain completes the processing of the memory.
Most people find that once the brain finishes integrating the experience, the distress connected to the memory becomes significantly reduced and easier to manage.
Most Common Reaction to EMDR: Fatigue
You’ll probably yawn during your EMDR session, and I won’t be offended at all! Many people notice they get sleepy or feel like taking a nap afterward. It’s intense emotional work you’re doing, and your body feels it.
EMDR can feel like a mental marathon. Even though you’re sitting still, your brain is working hard to connect thoughts, sensations, and memories that were once held apart by trauma. That deep integration takes energy, and it’s completely normal to feel tired once your system starts to settle.
Some people describe feeling “emotionally hungover,” mentally clear but physically drained. This fatigue isn’t a setback; it’s a sign of progress. Your brain is literally reprocessing old material, and your body needs time to catch up. I usually recommend planning a quiet evening after EMDR, skipping intense activities, and letting yourself rest. (Maybe an overshare - but when I was seeing my own EMDR therapist, I would swing by Rubio’s on my way home for nachos, put my pajamas on ASAP and watch mindless television for a few hours.)
Most people don’t realize just how connected their emotions and bodies are until they experience this. So don’t fight the urge to rest or go to bed early that night. Think of it as post-workout fatigue for your nervous system, evidence that healing is happening.
Emotional and Physical Reactions to EMDR
You can probably guess what some of the other reactions to EMDR therapy are! Many people get tearful (and then apologize - and then I remind them this is one of my occupational hazards and it’s ok!). Most people experience a range of emotions including anger and grief. Sometimes people feel nauseated or feel physical tension in their bodies. Often people will come back the next week and describe how the “floodgates” of grief were opened, but they describe it as a cleansing experience as well.
Other common reactions include vivid dreams, mental “downloads,” or new insights that appear days after the session. Some people notice they’re more emotionally sensitive or reactive for a few days (think of it as having lower emotional bandwidth), crying more easily, feeling raw, or noticing physical sensations in new ways. This is a normal part of your system continuing to process between sessions.
Some clients report mild headaches, lightheadedness, or tingling sensations as energy and emotion release through the body. These typically pass within 24-48 hours. In rare cases, I’ve seen it last up to 72 hours. Hydrating, resting, or journaling can help your body complete the integration process. You may also notice your relationship to the traumatic memory start to shift, it might feel further away, less vivid, or lose some of its emotional charge. That’s EMDR doing what it’s designed to do.
Reactions Between EMDR Sessions
One thing many people don’t expect is that processing can continue after the session ends. After EMDR sessions, it’s common for the brain to keep working on the material for several days as your nervous system continues integrating what was activated in session.
Clients sometimes notice new insights, memories, or emotional shifts that appear between sessions. Others report vivid dreams, unexpected moments of clarity, or realizing that something that used to trigger them suddenly feels less intense. These kinds of changes are often part of the brain continuing to process and reorganize the memory in the background.
Because of this ongoing processing, it’s often helpful to intentionally slow things down for a day or two after EMDR. Prioritizing rest, hydration, and gentle routines can support your nervous system as this integration continues. If you’re unsure whether what you’re experiencing is a normal part of EMDR processing or something to check in about, this is something your therapist will help you sort through so you’re not left trying to make sense of it by yourself.
For Therapists Supporting Clients Through EMDR
If you’re a therapist, clients will often come back between sessions unsure whether what they’re experiencing is normal or a sign that you may need to slow down, adjust pacing, or strengthen stabilization before moving forward. Having a clear way to explain these reactions and guide next steps can make these moments much easier to navigate.
A clear visual can make this much easier to explain. This visual shows how trauma memories become stored in fragmented pieces such as images, emotions, body sensations, and beliefs, and how EMDR helps the brain integrate those experiences so they can be processed and stored more adaptively.
→ How Trauma Memories Get Stuck and How EMDR Helps the Brain Process Them (free)
Once clients understand what’s happening, the next step is giving them something they can refer back to between sessions. This client handout explains common EMDR reactions, what’s part of normal processing, what to monitor, and when it may be important to reach out for additional support so clients are not trying to make sense of these experiences on their own.
→ Understanding Reactions to EMDR Therapy
When clients begin reporting reactions between sessions, it’s not always immediately clear whether what you’re seeing reflects expected processing or a signal that pacing, stabilization, or preparation needs to shift.
The Clinician Guide: Managing EMDR Reactions Between Sessions is designed to support those in-between-session decisions. It provides normalization language, stabilization strategies you can recommend, and clear indicators to help you decide whether to reassure and continue processing or pause and strengthen preparation before moving forward.
→ The Clinician Guide: Managing EMDR Reactions Between Sessions
Less Common Reactions to EMDR Therapy
Less common reactions include a physical re-experiencing of part of the trauma. So far, all of my clients that have had this happen have said it’s not nearly as intense as when it originally happened. A few examples would be feeling like you can’t breathe if you survived someone attempting to strangle you, or a sense of paralyzation if we are processing a target where you were drugged (typically in combination with some form of sexual assault).
What’s important to remember is that your body stored the physical aspect of the memory and the body is releasing some of the physical aspects of the trauma memory. People tend to be particularly fatigued after these sessions because of the strong physical and emotional trauma that was released, and your body needs time to heal.
In rare cases, clients may notice temporary increases in anxiety, vivid dreams, or brief dissociation (feeling spacey or detached). These are not signs of danger but rather signals that we may need to adjust pacing or resourcing to keep you grounded. I always remind clients: EMDR should never feel unsafe — we can slow down, pause, or return to stabilization at any time.
You might also notice heightened sensitivity to sound, light, or stressors for a short period afterward. This is your nervous system recalibrating. Grounding exercises, breathwork, or gentle movement can help re-regulate your body. And while these reactions can sound intense, most clients describe feeling lighter, clearer, and more at ease once the body has completed the release.
If reactions ever start to feel overwhelming, it usually means we need to slow the pace of processing and spend more time with stabilization or preparation strategies. EMDR therapy should always feel manageable, even when difficult emotions arise. Your therapist can pause processing, return to grounding tools, or shift the focus of treatment to help your nervous system settle again.
Research-Informed Reactions to EMDR
Clinical research and client surveys have reported several short-term reactions to EMDR therapy, including emotional intensity, fatigue, vivid dreams, temporary increases in distress, and physical sensations such as nausea or tingling. These reactions are generally mild and tend to resolve quickly with therapist guidance and appropriate self-care.
Researchers studying EMDR have also looked carefully at the possibility of adverse effects. Like most effective trauma therapies, EMDR can temporarily increase emotional activation while the brain processes difficult memories. However, research consistently finds that serious adverse events are rare when EMDR is delivered by a properly trained clinician who follows the full protocol and ensures adequate preparation and stabilization before processing begins.
In clinical trials, the most commonly reported reactions include temporary increases in emotional intensity, fatigue after sessions, vivid dreams, and short-term distress while memories are being reprocessed. These reactions typically resolve within a few days as the nervous system completes the integration process.
What Research Says About Reactions to EMDR Therapy
Research on psychotherapy overall suggests that adverse events occur in about 5% of clients receiving therapy, although these events may be underreported because many studies do not consistently monitor them.
When researchers examine trauma-focused treatments for PTSD, including EMDR therapy and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, deterioration rates are much lower, generally below 1%. Importantly, temporary increases in symptoms early in treatment were not associated with poorer treatment outcomes.
Research examining EMDR therapy specifically suggests that adverse reactions are rarely reported and not consistently measured across studies. When reactions are documented, they most commonly involve temporary increases in emotional distress or PTSD symptoms while memories are being processed.
This pattern makes sense when we consider how EMDR works. Trauma memories are often stored in interconnected networks that include images, emotions, body sensations, and beliefs about ourselves or the world. When EMDR activates these networks so the brain can reorganize them, people may temporarily experience emotions, body sensations, thoughts, or new insights related to the memory. In most cases, these reactions decrease naturally as the brain continues processing and integrating the experience.
Most clients ultimately report significant relief, a sense of distance from traumatic memories, improved emotional regulation, and greater clarity, evidence that the brain has successfully processed the event and stored it in a healthier way. Over time, memories that once felt overwhelming often begin to feel more distant, less vivid, and easier to think about without intense emotional distress.
Why Short-Term Discomfort Can Happen During EMDR Therapy
Many people fear that once we open up “pandora’s box,” they won’t be able to put themselves back together again. The thing is, we’re not shoving things back into pandora’s box. We are healing you from the trauma you endured. Yes, there may be times where you think that you won’t stop crying - but you will, and I’m there to help you through it. I’m here to hold space for you, to honor your experience and to be your safety net if you need it. Ultimately, you’ll feel an all encompassing sense of relief and you won’t be held back from reaching your potential.
Clients often describe this as feeling “like a weight has lifted” or “finally being able to breathe again.” Even if the process brings temporary discomfort, the emotional freedom that follows makes it worth it. This is about allowing those wounds to finally close in a healthy way.
Healing doesn’t mean forgetting what happened. It means remembering without reliving it.
While these reactions can feel unfamiliar or even unsettling at first, they are a normal part of how your brain processes and integrates difficult experiences during EMDR therapy.
The most important takeaway is that these reactions are not a sign that something is going wrong, but that your brain is actively processing and beginning to heal. If you’re feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or trying to make sense of what you’re experiencing, you don’t have to figure that out on your own. These reactions can feel confusing at first, but with the right support, they become much easier to understand and navigate so you have a clearer sense of what’s happening and what to expect next.
If you’re feeling unsure about what you’re experiencing, or starting to think EMDR might be the right fit for you, a brief consultation can help you make sense of what’s happening and understand what your next steps could look like.
Research References
Hoppen, T. H., Lindemann, A. S., & Morina, N. (2022). Safety of psychological interventions for adult post-traumatic stress disorder: Meta-analysis on the incidence and relative risk of deterioration, adverse events and serious adverse events. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 221(5), 658–667. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2022.111
Klatte, R., Strauss, B., Flückiger, C., & Rosendahl, J. (2025). Adverse events in psychotherapy randomized controlled trials: A systematic review. Psychotherapy Research, 35(1), 84–99. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2023.2286992
Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy: Basic principles, protocols and procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
van Schie, K., & van Veen, S. C. (2026). Adverse effects of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy: A neglected but urgent area of inquiry. Current Opinion in Psychology, 67, 102155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2025.102155
