We’ve made it to the last phase of EMDR!

Phase 8 is called Re-evaluation. Phase 8 is essentially the check-in at the beginning of the following session. This is where the clinician is catching up with the client, asking how things have been since the previous session, and if there are any important changes or updates that are needed to be discussed.

Phase 8 also includes discussing any insights, thoughts, behaviors, or dreams that the client might have experienced between sessions as it relates to the EMDR reprocessing work. This allows for the clinician to get a read on where the client is at and then collaboratively, the client and clinician can decide where the session needs to go for the day.

Sometimes from Phase 8, the client and clinician will return to Phase 3 and move forward with reprocessing (Phase 4 and beyond). Other times, the session may be a more traditional talk-therapy approach, with the client discussing from a top down approach any connections from the reprocessing work to the present day.

Phase 8 can be pretty flexible based on what the client needs for that day.

Go with that!

If you are curious to learn more about EMDR or are interested in beginning your EMDR therapy journey, please reach out to me via the Contact Me page on my website. You can also learn more about EMDR as well as additional EMDR therapists in your area by visiting the EMDR International Association’s website here.

Reminder: these blog posts are meant to be purely educational and/or entertainment tools and do NOT replace psychotherapy and/or other medically necessary treatments.