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                                 Kambria Evans Psychotherapy: 3 Metaphors to Explain EMDR to Clients 
                                                                             
                   
                  So, what is EMDR like? 
                   
                   
                  We hear this question often, don’t we? We hear it from friends, family, and potential/ current clients. 
                  How do you explain the process? Given your own EMDR work personally, how was it for you? 
                   
                   
                  On a weekly basis, I see an EMDR therapist post a question in one of our online communities about how 
                  to explain EMDR to clients. While others often suggest EMDRIA videos or other resources, I’ve found 
                  these to be steeped in language that is highly academic and inaccessible for non-therapists. We need 
                  language that is accessible and easy to understand, especially for clients that are coming to us in 
                  active trauma and may not be able to take in confusing concepts.  
                   
                   
                  In response, I’m sharing 3 metaphors to use to help explain EMDR to clients or non-therapists.  
                   
                   
                  Whichever metaphor you choose, please highlight the following 5 points to clients: 
                    
                       A.  You are not alone this time.  
                       B.  You are resourced this time.  
                       C.  We will keep dual awareness.  
                       D.  You have control this time.  
                       E.  When they ask, what’s the point of bringing up all the trauma and pain again? 
                                •   This is not a car accident drive-by where we just look, feel horrified by what we see, and 
                                    then keep driving. The purpose of EMDR is to reprocess trauma so that you get to feel 
                                    differently about what happened now in your mind, emotions, and body.  
                                •   You don’t have to tell me any details (like you may be asked to in talk therapy).  
                   
                   
                   
                                On the following page, points A-D will be highlighted in each of the 3 metaphors. 
                   
                                                       
                           Kambria Evans Psychotherapy: An EMDR Therapy and Training Center in Silicon Valley, CA 
                                       Contact us at kambria@kambriaevans.com or www.kambriaevans.com  
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                   Three Metaphors to Explain EMDR to Clients: 
                               
        
         1)  The Train Ride (or bus) 
            a)  I’m in the seat next to you the entire time.  
            b)  This is a fully stocked train, so we have what we need along the way. We are in first 
              class.  
            c)  Notice along the way if you are still in the train with me, or if you’re in the scenery that 
              you are noticing outside the window. Notice if the scenery is coming closer or if the train 
              window (barrier) is gone. 
            d)  There is an emergency chord along the top of the train car. You can pull this at any time 
              to stop the train. Because we are in first class, you can even ask the conductor to slow the 
              train down, go faster, or stop and take a break. If we are going through a tunnel, which 
              may be scary and dark for a while, remember that there is always a light at the end. You 
              may want to stop in the tunnel, or you may want to push to get through it. You get to 
              decide.  
            
         2)  Time Travel (like A Christmas Carol movie) 
            a)  I am a guide like the Ghost of Christmas Past (or present or future) that understands time 
              travel well.  
            b)  In the movie, the character had to visit the past in his pajamas, but you will get to take 
              what you need. You will be resourced.  
            c)  We are going to visit memories (or the future in Future Template) where you will notice 
              your younger self and you may have strong responses to what you see. You will notice 
              your younger self thinking and feeling things. You may feel differently than your 
              younger self since you are looking at past events with adult eyes.  
            d)  Unlike the movie, you get to decide if you want to go back to the present and stop 
              looking at the past.  
               
         3)  The Rescue Mission (the collapsed building)  
            a)  It’s not safe to go on a rescue mission alone, is it? I’m going with you, and I’ve 
              completed many successful rescue missions before. I’m kind of like Dwayne the Rock 
              Johnson in those rescue movies. I’m trained, ready, and experienced to get us through 
              this.  
            b)  We will also be bringing our team of resources (internal qualities or external figures).  
            c)  Let’s go get the parts of you that are still stuck in that collapsed building. They were left 
              behind in that trauma, weren’t they? They’ve been calling out for help and attention for a 
              while. Let’s respond.  
            d)  We will tie a rope around this tree, right outside the collapsed building. If you need to 
              take a break for some water, food or bathroom, we know how to find our way out, don’t 
              we?  
        
           Kambria Evans Psychotherapy: An EMDR Therapy and Training Center in Silicon Valley, CA 
               Contact us at kambria@kambriaevans.com or www.kambriaevans.com