112: Rethinking EMDR Readiness: Beyond First and Worst [Why Women Go To Therapy Series]
Jan 20, 2026
In this episode of The Zero Disturbance Podcast, Kambria Evans continues the Why Women Go to Therapy series with a passionate, clinically grounded conversation about EMDR, readiness, and why so many people—especially women—are being incorrectly told they’re “not ready” for trauma processing.
Kambria breaks down what EMDR is, how the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model works, and why strict adherence to “first and worst” traumatic targets—often emphasized in early training—can become limiting for both clinicians and clients.
This episode honors the importance of EMDR basic training and standard protocol, which lays a crucial foundation for ethical, effective trauma work. At the same time, Kambria highlights how decades of clinical innovation within the EMDR framework have expanded options far beyond what was available in the 1980s—allowing therapists to work more flexibly, safely, and responsively.
Kambria challenges the idea that EMDR must be intense or retraumatizing to be effective, and makes a compelling case for a rebrand of EMDR—one that emphasizes regulation, choice, and accessibility rather than fear or overwhelm. By starting with positive targets, mid-level disturbance, and nervous system capacity, EMDR can support clarity, agency, and healing for far more people.
This episode is for women seeking clarity about their readiness for EMDR, clinicians who feel boxed in by rigid interpretations of protocol, and anyone curious about how EMDR can be used more ethically, flexibly, and effectively.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- What EMDR really is (and what it isn’t)
- Why most people are ready for EMDR when it’s applied flexibly
- The difference between EMDR readiness and protocol rigidity
- Why respecting standard protocol and expanding options both matter
- How positive targets and low-level disturbance can be powerful entry points
- Why telling someone they’re “not ready” can be retraumatizing
- How EMDR supports clarity, power, and choice—not just trauma relief
- What questions to ask when interviewing an EMDR therapist
- Why women deserve more agency in their healing process
Who This Episode Is For
- Women navigating divorce, loss, identity shifts, parenting, menopause, or societal pressure
- Clinicians trained in EMDR who feel constrained by standard protocol alone
- Therapists wanting to work ethically, responsibly, and flexibly within the EMDR framework
- Anyone curious about trauma, neuroscience, and healing beyond pathology
Favorite Positive Targets Before Processing Negative Material
Kambria shares several preferred positive and resourcing targets that can be used before engaging negative or high-disturbance material:
- Modified Resource Development Installation (RDI) – Janina Fisher (2001)
- Four Blinks – Tom Zimmerman
- Positive Affect Tolerance Protocol – Andrew Leeds
- 3 Figures – Laurel Parnell
If you’re a clinician and this episode resonates, I want you to know about a way to go deeper; The Lesson Plan is a simple, practical framework for assessing readiness and integrating EMDR without flooding clients. Learn more about The Lesson Plan and get 30% off for therapists!
Lesson Plan sale link here: https://zerodisturbance.mykajabi.com/offers/zZFZiLaL/checkout
Note: This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional therapy. If you’re experiencing difficulties, please seek guidance from a licensed mental health provider. All stories, examples, and characters shared are fictionalized or composite representations. Any resemblance to actual persons or situations is purely coincidental and intended solely for educational illustration.
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With a Masters in Education from Vanderbilt, Kambria has been creating trainings and teaching adult learners for over 20 years. As the Director of Education and Quality Improvement at Stanford Medical School, she created ease in complex systems, thereby giving medical trainees successful learning experiences. Now, as a dedicated mom, therapist, and EMDR Consultant, Kambria knows what it means to do things efficiently, effectively, and in a learner-centered way. When she isn't podcasting or creating online courses, you can find Kambria playing with her twins on a beach in California.
