03/25/2026
Does EMDR really work? I want to answer this question as honestly as I can, because I think it is so important to set expectations for those considering EMDR treatment.
After years of practice, EMDR certification through EMDRIA, and hundreds of clients sitting across from me in sessions, I have a fairly clear sense of when EMDR works, why it works, and — just as importantly — when it doesn’t. The internet is full of glowing testimonials and, on the other end, skeptical dismissals. Neither extreme gives you the full picture. What I want to offer here is something more useful: a grounded, clinically informed answer from someone who has watched this therapy change people’s lives and also watched it fall short.
So. Does EMDR really work? The honest answer is: yes, often profoundly — and not for everyone, not always, and not without the right conditions in place.
Does EMDR really work? An honest appraisal from an EMDR certified therapist who has worked with hundreds of clients.