One of the biggest uncertainties for EMDR therapists is this: “Is this actually working?” They really want to find out “How do you know if processing is happening in EMDR?”
You might be sitting in a session wondering…
- Is the client processing?
- Are they blocked?
- Are they just telling me a story?
- Am I doing something wrong?
If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone. In fact, this is one of the most common themes that comes up in supervision.
Processing Doesn’t Always Look How You Expect
There’s a common misconception that EMDR processing should look dramatic. Big emotional releases. Tears. Sudden breakthroughs. But in reality? Processing is often much more subtle than that.
Sometimes it looks like:
- A slight shift in emotion
- A new thought emerging
- A change in body sensation
- A quieter, more distant feeling towards the memory
And if you’re not looking for these smaller shifts, it’s easy to miss that processing is actually happening. Which just adds to that question, “How do we know when processing is happening in EMDR.
Signs That Processing Is Happening
So what should you be looking for?
Processing in EMDR is about movement.
Not perfection. Not resolution (yet). Just movement.
You might notice:
- Changes in emotion, image, body sensation, or belief
- New associations emerging
- The client making links or connections
- New information coming in
- A sense of distancing from the memory
- A reduction in intensity (even slightly)
These are all signs that the brain is doing what it’s designed to do, processing and integrating.
Signs That Processing Might Not Be Happening
Equally important is knowing when things feel stuck.
Some common indicators include:
- Repetition without change
- A sense of stuckness
- Overthinking or analysing
- No shift in emotion, body, or belief
- A purely chronological narrative (retelling rather than reprocessing)
- Dissociation
This doesn’t mean EMDR isn’t working. It simply means something in the system might need adjusting.
What Actually Helps Processing Happen?
This is where your role as the therapist becomes key, not in doing more, but in facilitating the conditions for processing.
Some of the most important factors include:
1. Activation of the Memory
Processing requires the memory network to be “online.”
This is true:
- At the beginning of reprocessing
- And when you reach the end of a channel (e.g. plateaus, neutrality, repeated responses)
Sometimes a gentle reactivation is all that’s needed.
2. Appropriate Bilateral Stimulation (BLS)
Speed, rhythm, and type of BLS matter.
Too fast, too slow, or inconsistent stimulation can interrupt the natural flow.
3. Staying Out of the Way
One of the hardest, and most important skills in EMDR.
It can be tempting to:
- Ask more questions
- Reassure
- Direct
But often, this derails the processing.
As we often say:
👉 Don’t halt the train. Don’t drag the train. Let it move.
4. Clear Targeting
Processing becomes much more efficient when:
- The target is clearly defined
- Questions are linked back to the memory
- SUDs, VOC, and channels are used intentionally
Clarity reduces confusion, for both therapist and client.
5. Therapist Awareness
This one is often overlooked. Your own internal experience matters.
If you’re feeling:
- Anxious
- Unsure
- Like you need to “fix” something
You may unintentionally:
- Push the client
- Pull them in a direction
- Or interrupt their natural processing
Awareness of this allows you to step back into a more facilitative role.
6. Observing the Non-Verbal
EMDR isn’t just about what the client says.
It’s about what you notice:
- Facial expressions
- Body shifts
- Breathing changes
- Pauses
These often tell you far more about whether processing is happening than the words themselves.
A Reframe That Changes Everything
Here’s the key takeaway:
If something is changing, even slightly, processing is happening. It doesn’t need to be dramatic. Or need to be fast. It just needs to be moving.
The Mindsync Perspective
At Mindsync, we see this question all the time:
“Is it working?”
And often, the answer is:
👉 Yes, you’re just not recognising the signs yet.
When therapists develop a deeper understanding of:
- What processing actually looks like
- How subtle change can be
- And how to trust the model
Everything shifts. They stop second-guessing. And start confidently facilitating change.
Thinking of training in EMDR? Look at our training schedule here
Final Thought
You don’t need to force processing. Or chase it. You don’t need to make it happen.
You simply need to:
Recognise it. Trust it. And allow it.
Written by Caroline van Diest