The Follow-Up: Is EMDR for Me?

The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

Dr. Mona Amin

Medicine, Kids & Family, Health & Fitness, Parenting

4.9 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 4 May 2026

⏱️ 15 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A question I get often is: “How do I know if EMDR might be right for me?” In this episode, we break down what EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) actually is, who it can help, and what a session really looks like. Originally developed to treat PTSD, EMDR is now used to support people struggling with birth trauma, childhood experiences, anxiety, panic, phobias, depression, parenting triggers, and more. You do not need a formal diagnosis to benefit from it. Many parents come in simply feeling reactive, overwhelmed, or triggered in ways they do not fully understand. We discuss: • How trauma and intense experiences are stored in the brain • Why certain parenting moments can feel disproportionately triggering • What “reprocessing” actually means • The science behind bilateral stimulation and REM sleep • The phases of EMDR therapy • What safety and preparation look like before starting • What a session may involve, including eye movements, tapping, or tones • Why EMDR is about healing, not retraumatizing Want more? Listen to the full, original episode. Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome back to the follow-up.
0:03.9	I'm Dr. Mona, pediatrician, and mom, and this is where we revisit a favorite conversation of the Peds Dock Talk podcast in less time than it takes you to sit down in therapy, thinking you're just going to be talking about your week, and then suddenly you're unpacking things from 10 years ago.
0:19.4	I've been there.
0:20.4	And honestly, that's part of why
0:21.6	today's episode feels really meaningful for me to bring back. Over the past two years, I've been
0:27.1	doing EMDR therapy, which stands for eye movement, desensitization, and reprocessing.
0:32.8	It's a form of therapy that helps the brain process experiences that may still feel stuck, whether that's
0:39.0	trauma, anxiety, difficult life events, or patterns that keep showing up in our lives.
0:44.0	I recently graduated from EMDR.
0:46.8	I didn't get like a ceremony or anything, but we realized me and my therapist that we were
0:50.7	done with all of the major processing we needed to.
0:53.2	And we've moved from
0:54.7	intense weekly sessions into monthly check-ins with my therapist. That transition feels really
1:01.1	big for me. And I'm so proud of myself because when I first started this work, there were a lot
1:05.9	of moments that were very emotional, intense, and deeply healing. And I'm so grateful for the process and for the support
1:12.4	I had along the way. And due to patient therapist confidentiality, I can't thank my wonderful
1:18.7	therapist by name, but you know who you are. Thank you. You have made my life what it is through the
1:23.6	work that we do. And I'm just so grateful for you. So in honor of this chapter, I wanted to bring back my conversation with Dr. Cassidy
1:30.6	Fridas.
1:31.2	She's a licensed marriage and family therapist who also practices EMDR.
1:36.0	And in this episode, we talk about how EMDR works, who might benefit from it, and why
1:41.3	this approach has helped so many people process experiences that still affect
	...

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