EMDR-Informed Therapy for Intrusive Thoughts, Anxiety, and Repetitive Behavior Patterns

EMDR-Informed Therapy for OCD: Distancing Technique

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is traditionally associated with trauma treatment. It incorporates "bilateral stimulation," which typically involves guided eye movements, alternating sounds, or gentle left-right tapping patterns intended to engage both sides of the brain in a rhythmic way to help the brain process distressing material.

I integrate an EMDR strategy called "Distancing Technique" when working with distress related to intrusive thoughts and obsessive patterns.  The Distancing Technique is designed to help clients observe thoughts, triggers, memories, or urges with greater emotional separation and reduced reactivity.

In distancing work, bilateral stimulation may be used while the client notices a thought, image, urge, or emotional response from a more observational stance rather than becoming fully immersed in it. I monitor my client’s emotional state throughout the process and adjust the pace as needed to help the client remain grounded, present, and regulated while practicing new ways of responding to distressing internal experiences.

The goal is not to eliminate thoughts entirely, but to help clients respond differently to distressing internal experiences without performing the compulsive.  Some individuals experience primarily intrusive thoughts.  Others also experience repetitive behaviors like washing, cleaning tapping, counting, and other time-consuming or distressing routines.  The distancing technique can be used to address either or both.

Common Concerns That Bring Clients to Therapy:

  • Repetitive intrusive thoughts
  • Anxiety that feels difficult to turn off
  • Rumination and overthinking
  • Perfectionism and fear of making mistakes
  • Disturbing or unwanted thoughts
  • Fear-based avoidance patterns
  • Shame, guilt, or self-criticism
  • Stress that impacts sleep, concentration, or relationships
  • Repeated checking behaviors
  • Difficulty tolerating uncertainty
  • Mental reviewing or replaying conversations
  • Reassurance-seeking from others
  • Repetitive routines or rituals that temporarily reduce anxiety
  • Avoidance of situations that trigger fear or discomfort
  • Excessive researching or seeking certainty online
  • Feeling stuck in repetitive thought-behavior cycles

EMDR Therapy can help clients develop a different relationship with these thoughts and behaviors while building greater emotional flexibility and resilience.

Benefits of the EMDR Approach with Julie:

Sometimes clients feel "stuck" in therapy they are doing with their therapist.  Sometimes clients feel stuck because insight alone does not always change automatic emotional or physiological responses. However, the obsessions and compulsions are not rational. In my practice, EMDR-informed approaches may be used alongside other evidence-based interventions depending on the client’s needs, history, and treatment goals.  I find that the EMDR Distancing Technique works best with mild to moderate obsessions and compulsions and often in conjunction with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  I sometimes use EMDR as an "adjunctive therapy".  This means that my clients might continue to work with a their other therapist on Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for OCD-related symptoms. AND I can incorporate EMDR alongside these methods for a more holistic approach.  Clients can continue seeing their therapist while doing EMDR with me.  All three of us can collaborate care.

Many people reach out to me after feeling exhausted by repetitive thoughts, anxiety, or mental rituals that consume time and energy. Therapy can provide a supportive space to develop new ways of responding to these experiences

Important Information

This website is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Reading this page does not establish a therapist-client relationship. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, contact 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

EMDR and other therapy approaches may not be appropriate for every individual. Outcomes vary based on many factors, including the nature of symptoms, treatment participation, and individual circumstances.

Click here for more information on EMDR and trauma .