★ PTSDIY · Field Manual ★ Part IV ★
Chapter 19
EMDR
Reprocess with bilateral attention
FM 19-EMD-1016–12 sessions
19-1.Mission brief
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing has you hold a trauma memory in mind briefly while following side-to-side eye movements, taps or tones. Over repeated sets, the memory tends to lose its charge and connect to what you know now. You don't have to describe it in detail.
19-2.Intel
Multiple controlled trials, and recommended in the VA/DoD guideline and by the World Health Organization. How the eye movements contribute is still debated; the overall treatment works.
19-3.What a course looks like
| Phase | What happens |
|---|---|
| History and preparation | Your therapist maps targets and teaches you calming skills, including a "safe place" exercise. |
| Assessment | Pick one memory: the image, the negative belief about yourself, the belief you'd rather hold, and the body sensation. |
| Reprocessing | Short sets of bilateral stimulation while you notice whatever comes up. Repeat until distress drops. |
| Installation and closure | Strengthen the new belief, check the body, and end every session grounded. |
19-4.Field procedures — get ready
| 01 | Build your calm skills firstPractice grounding and breathing (Part II) until they're reliable. | weeks |
| 02 | Write your target listMemories that still have a charge, with a 0–10 rating. Your therapist will help choose. | 15 min |
| 03 | Plan for after sessionsProcessing can continue for a day or two: vivid dreams, stirred feelings. Keep the evening light. | — |
19-5.Rules of engagement
Not a self-help technique; don't try to reprocess trauma on your own with apps or videos. Heavy dissociation needs a therapist experienced in adapting EMDR.
19-6.Common faults & corrections
| ✕ | Fault: Expecting it to erase the memoryCorrection: You'll still remember. It just stops hitting like it's happening now. |
19-7.Call for backup
Look for a therapist trained through an EMDRIA-approved program, and ask how many trauma cases they've treated.
PTSDIY · FM 19-EMD-101 · Part IV19