What is actually happening in your brain during EMDR therapy?

In this episode of the Zero Disturbance Podcast, Kambria Evans breaks down one of the most misunderstood aspects of EMDR therapy: trauma processing.

Using a powerful courtroom analogy, Kambria explains how the brain weighs both negative trauma memories and positive adaptive beliefs during EMDR sessions.

Many people believe EMDR therapy focuses only on painful memories—but that’s only part of the picture. In reality, the brain integrates both negative and positive evidence to help clients reach clarity, regulation, and healing.

This episode explores:

• Why EMDR can feel intense
• How trauma beliefs are formed in childhood
• Why positive experiences are critical for healing
• How the brain’s adaptive information processing system works
• Why EMDR empowers the client—not the therapist—to decide what is true 

If you've ever wondered what EMDR therapy is actually doing in your brain—or why it can feel so powerful—this episode will help you understand the science and psychology behind brain-based trauma therapy.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• What is happening in the brain during EMDR processing
  
• Why trauma creates negative beliefs about ourselves
  
• The role of positive adaptive information in trauma healing
  
• Why EMDR is not just about revisiting trauma
  
• How the brain integrates memories to reduce distress
  
• Why EMDR helps clients build self-trust and clarity
  
  

🧩 Key Concepts From This Episode

Kambria introduces a powerful metaphor:

Your brain during EMDR functions like a courtroom.

• Positive beliefs present evidence
• Negative beliefs present evidence
• Your observing self acts as the jury
• Through processing, the brain reaches a new verdict about what is actually true
• This process allows trauma memories to be reprocessed rather than relived.

💡 Who This Episode Is For

This episode is helpful if you:

• Are considering EMDR therapy
• Are currently in trauma therapy
  
• Want to understand how the brain heals trauma
• Are a therapist interested in brain-based therapy models
• Want a clearer understanding of trauma and negative beliefs

Come learn with us at Zero Disturbance: 

Want to learn more about empowering yourself on your terms? If you appreciated this episode, here's more ways to learn with Kambria! https://www.zerodisturbance.com/workwithkambria

We also offer free resources for clients and therapists! Get access to our free client resource library for the most up-to-date tools and resources for your own journey.  

Therapists, access our favorite free resources for designing high-value offers in The Zero Disturbance Welcome Bundle, 

https://www.zerodisturbance.com/free-resources 

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. 

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.