Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can be highly effective in relieving distress and negative beliefs related to a traumatic experience. There are eight phases involved in standard EMDR therapy—not all of which occur during a single session, but typically over a period of sessions. How fast or slow one moves through the eight phases depends on several factors including how recently the trauma occurred, pre-trauma functioning, and one’s unique strengths and skills in tolerating distressing emotions, to name a few.

If you’re feeling that motherhood is harder than you ever imagined it to be, and perhaps tougher than anyone warned you, you’re not alone. There’s never been a time that being a parent has been harder. It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has created an immense burden for parents. At times it’s made childcare near impossible, our fears about illness soar, and introduced a whole new ballgame of the juggling act that already feels nearly impossible.

This is a common question asked by both therapists and patients alike. Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that EMDR is contraindicated during any stage of pregnancy. In fact, untreated mental health conditions appear to be more detrimental to both mother and fetus or infant that far outweigh and negative effects of treatment. While some treatments have adverse side effects that can negatively impact the developing fetus, there’s no evidence that leads experts to believe that this is true for EMDR therapy.

While there is some level of nervousness, worry, and anxiety that comes with the transition to parenthood (and is healthy and adaptive), we’re seeing an increase in postpartum anxiety at clinical levels—causing levels of distress and impairment that interfere with daily functioning. It’s estimated that about 10% of mothers develop anxiety during the postpartum period.