In an EMDR session, a disturbing image,sensation and emotion is identified, along with the current belief held about that event. Then bilateral stimulation of the brain is used (by holding vibrating paddles or listening to sound with ear phones) while you focus on the disturbing material. Each person will process the information uniquely depending on values and personal experiences. Processing continues until the disturbing event lessens and is associated with a positive thought about one's self; "It wasn't my fault", or "I'm safe now". Often in an EMDR session intense emotions may arise, but by the end of a session most people experience a significant reduction in the level of disturbance.

No one knows how EMDR works exactly, but there have been several scientific studies that have shown the effectiveness of EMDR.