A SOULFLO Therapy Guide
EMDR Therapy — Videos, What to Expect, and How to Prepare
Curated by SOULFLO Therapy — to ease the struggle of finding the right fit.
This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, diagnosis, or treatment. Reading this does not establish a client-therapist relationship. If any of this resonates, we encourage you to reach out for a consultation to discuss your specific situation.
What Is EMDR? (Watch)
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) helps the brain reprocess distressing memories using bilateral stimulation. Rather than describe it alone, here's the official explainer video from EMDRIA (EMDR International Association), the field's governing professional organization.
How to Prepare for an EMDR Session
- Eat and hydrate beforehand — EMDR can be mentally and physically tiring; go in with steady energy.
- Clear your schedule afterward — avoid booking anything demanding right after a session. Processing can continue for hours or days afterward.
- Bring your grounding tools — if your therapist has taught you specific grounding or breathing techniques, have them in mind going in.
- Don't over-prepare mentally — you don't need to "figure out" the memory in advance or rehearse what you'll say. Your therapist will guide the process.
- Plan gentle transportation — some people feel foggy or emotionally raw after a session; arrange a low-stress way to get home if possible.
What to Do After an EMDR Session
- Rest, if you can. Give yourself permission to do less for the remainder of the day.
- Stay hydrated and eat something grounding.
- Expect continued processing. It's common for dreams, memories, or emotions to keep surfacing for a day or two after a session — this is part of the reprocessing, not a sign something went wrong.
- Use grounding tools if you feel activated — a walk, contact with the ground/nature, a weighted blanket, or whatever your therapist has helped you identify as regulating for you.
- Avoid major decisions in the immediate aftermath of a session, when possible, since your system may still be settling.
- Reach out to your therapist if something feels like too much between sessions — most therapists have guidance for this built into your treatment plan.
Journal Prompts for Before and After EMDR
- What am I hoping to work on or understand better today?
- What does my body feel like right now, before we begin?
- Is there anything I want my therapist to know before we start?
- What feels different, even slightly, compared to before the session?
- What came up that surprised me?
- What is my body telling me right now?
- What do I need for the rest of today — rest, connection, movement, quiet?
Meet Your Therapist
A therapist who fits what you're exploring
Nan Wang, APCC/AMFT
Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor & Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
EMDR-trained and draws on it often to reach what talk therapy alone can't.
Mai Eguchi, AMFT
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
EMDR-trained with a structural dissociation lens, attuned to complex trauma.
Nancy Phung-Smith, LMFT
Founder & Clinical Supervisor
EMDRIA Approved Consultant offering EMDR Intensives for focused, deeper reprocessing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some people notice temporary emotional intensity between sessions as processing continues — this is common and typically settles. Your therapist paces treatment to keep this manageable.
Free Resource
Free Guide: Grounding & Stabilization Tools
EMDR psychoeducation, somatic tools, and journal prompts — plus a bit about our team.
Get the Free GuideWe believe healing lasts when it's held by community, connection, and the right tools — not chased as a quick fix. Each month, we share worksheets, books, podcasts, and research to support the work you're already doing. This isn't a newsletter — just resources when they're useful. Your information is never shared.
What's Stuck Can Move — EMDR Can Help
Memories that feel as present as today can lose their charge. EMDR helps the brain finish processing what it couldn't at the time, so the past can stay in the past.