Phase 6 of EMDR, the Body Scan, is one of the most important aspects of EMDR processing. After desensitization in phase 4, and installation in phase 5, the client is no longer triggered by the original memory, in fact the client will often feel empowered when they think about the trauma as they strengthened the connection of the memory with their chosen positive belief. While the mind is now in a healthier place of acceptance, the body can still hold on to unresolved physical sensations from the memory in the form of discomfort and tension, such as a tightness in the chest, stomach churning, etc. Phase 6 is designed to address these physical symptoms so that mind and body are positively aligned.

If you’ve been following my blogs on each of the 8 phases of EMDR, you’ve likely learned all about the first 4 phases. In phase 4, we focused on desensitization of the traumatic memory, lowering the distress level to a 0 or 1 out of 10. In phase 5, the Installation Phase, we are taking what the client has accomplished in phase 4  and focusing our attention on aligning with a positive belief that the client now identifies with, and strengthening its connection with the client’s view of themselves.

If you’ve been reading my other blogs on the first three phases of EMDR, then you might be looking forward to learning about Phase 4 of EMDR, the Desensitization Phase. While no phase is more important than the other, because all built upon each other to play an integral role in healing, phase 4 is “where the magic” happens.

In my previous blogs, I’ve described the first two phases of EMDR (there are eight phases in total). In this blog, I describe the third phase, the Assessment phase. This phase is designed to lay the groundwork for phase 4, the Desensitization phase, where the actual reprocessing of the traumatic memory begins.

Just like you might spend time intentionally stretching and warming up your muscles and ligaments before you begin a workout in order to prevent injury, phase 2 is about intentionally preparing yourself for the processing you will undergo in phases 3-8.

Phase 1 of EMDR is the guiding compass of EMDR, pointing you in the right direction on your journey with EMDR. It is essentially the process by which a client chooses the memory they are going to process with EMDR for the next several weeks.