Can EMDR Work If You Don’t Remember the Trauma?
As many as 70 percent of U.S. adults have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lives. The all-too-common reality of trauma can frequently leave a survivor without a clear memory of what exactly happened. Negative memories can wind up being stored in fragments and reappear in intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks. Unfortunately, this reflexive defense mechanism can slow the recovery process. However, with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), this issue doesn’t have to be an obstacle.
Whether you're dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex PTSD (C-PTSD), EMDR offers a unique approach to healing that sets it apart from traditional talk therapy.
Reminder: What Is EMDR?
This likely isn’t what most people imagine when they think of therapy. While there is still talking and reflection involved, the core process of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) centers on a therapist guiding the client through specific hand or finger movements that the client follows with their eyes. This is done while the client focuses on a traumatic memory in need of processing.
These elements help create a sense of safety, allowing the individual to work through trauma without becoming re-triggered. Over time, this also helps the brain replace painful images and beliefs with more adaptive and positive ones. Considering this, it’s natural to wonder how EMDR might work if someone doesn’t have full or clear memories of their traumatic experiences.
4 Ways EMDR Can Work Even If You Don’t Remember the Trauma
1. The Design of EMDR Is Based Precisely on What You Can Remember
As mentioned above, you will be asked to choose a memory or image to focus on and resolve. From there, you move on to other memories and sensations that relate to past trauma. Your EMDR therapist will work with what you remember and choose. This is one of the foundations of the treatment protocol and is addressed in EMDR’s thorough assessment and history-taking.
2. Throughout the Treatment, Adjustments Are Always Made
EMDR therapy is fluid and adaptive. Where you aim your focus in the beginning can be reevaluated and adjusted as sessions go on. The goal is clearly trauma resolution, but the road you take to get there is very much subject to change.
3. With Your Permission, Memory Prompts Can Be Used
If you encounter a roadblock in terms of recalling events, you can call on memory prompts. In advance, you can introduce anything (photographs, letters, digital posts, texts, recordings, sensory input, and more) that will help you remember what feels important to the treatment.
4. Again, the Goal is to Resolve Trauma, and That Doesn’t Require “Perfection”
Even under ideal circumstances, memories are very personal. How you recall your past is unique, and how you resolve your past can be just as unique. To set an expectation of 100 percent total recall isn't helpful. Your therapist will help you connect the memory fragments as best you can. Often, this process will result in a sudden return of memories that are valuable to the healing process
Trauma Survivors Can Reclaim Their Lives With EMDR
Worrying about what you can or cannot remember after trauma is completely understandable. However, placing too much emphasis on memory recall can sometimes hinder the healing process. Survivors of trauma often carry a heavy emotional load, and it’s important to remember that healing doesn’t require perfect memory.
EMDR therapists are trained to work with fragmented, unclear, or even absent memories. They know how to guide the process safely and effectively, no matter where you’re starting from.
If you’re feeling unsure, book a free and confidential consultation to explore whether EMDR therapy is the right fit for your needs.
