Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing EMDR is a therapy technique that uses bilateral stimulation to lower the distress and symptoms caused by trauma and painful life events. Bilateral stimulation is gentle left and right movements, or taps, that help engage the brain. This mimics the brain activity that occurs during REM sleep, which is the brain's natural state in which it processes life events. Cool, huh? In the therapy room, we will call forward a painful memory a