EMDR and Energy Healing: Integrating Therapy and Spirituality

BY NICOLE LAU

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the most effective evidence-based therapies for trauma. Energy healing (Reiki, chakra work, etc.) is one of the most powerful spiritual approaches to trauma.

For years, these two worlds—clinical psychology and spiritual healing—have operated separately. Therapists do EMDR. Energy healers do chakra work. Rarely do the two meet.

But what if they could work together? What if you could integrate the neurological reprocessing of EMDR with the energetic clearing of chakra work? What if you could heal trauma at both the brain level AND the soul level?

This is your complete guide to integrating EMDR and energy healing for comprehensive trauma recovery.

Understanding EMDR

What Is EMDR?

EMDR is a psychotherapy approach that helps you process traumatic memories through bilateral stimulation.

Developed by Francine Shapiro in 1987, EMDR uses:

• Eye movements (following therapist's fingers side to side)
• Or bilateral tapping (alternating taps on knees or shoulders)
• Or bilateral sounds (alternating tones in each ear)

While doing bilateral stimulation, you recall the traumatic memory. This helps your brain reprocess it.

How EMDR Works

The theory: Trauma memories get "stuck" in the brain, not fully processed. They're stored with all the original emotions, sensations, and beliefs.

EMDR helps the brain:

• Access the stuck memory
• Reprocess it (integrate it with other memories and information)
• Store it as a "normal" memory (past, not present)
• Reduce emotional charge and physical sensations
• Change negative beliefs associated with the trauma

The 8 Phases of EMDR

1. History taking: Therapist learns your trauma history
2. Preparation: Learn coping skills, establish safety
3. Assessment: Identify target memory and associated beliefs/emotions/sensations
4. Desensitization: Bilateral stimulation while recalling memory
5. Installation: Strengthen positive belief to replace negative one
6. Body scan: Check for remaining physical tension
7. Closure: Return to calm state
8. Reevaluation: Check progress in next session

Understanding Energy Healing for Trauma

What Is Energy Healing?

Energy healing works with the subtle energy body (chakras, aura, meridians) to clear trauma and restore balance.

Common modalities:

• Reiki (channeling universal energy)
• Chakra balancing (clearing and restoring chakra flow)
• Cord cutting (releasing energetic attachments)
• Aura repair (healing tears in energy field)
• Soul retrieval (shamanic practice of calling back soul fragments)

How Energy Healing Works for Trauma

The theory: Trauma creates energetic blockages, imprints, and distortions in your energy body.

Energy healing:

• Clears energetic imprints of trauma
• Restores flow to blocked chakras
• Repairs aura tears from violation
• Releases energetic cords to perpetrators or events
• Calls back soul fragments that left during trauma
• Restores energetic boundaries

Why Integrate EMDR and Energy Healing?

They Address Different Levels

EMDR addresses:

• Brain/neurological level (memory reprocessing)
• Cognitive level (changing beliefs)
• Emotional level (reducing emotional charge)
• Physical level (reducing body sensations)

Energy healing addresses:

• Energetic level (clearing chakras, aura)
• Soul level (soul retrieval, spiritual healing)
• Karmic level (past life trauma, ancestral patterns)
• Spiritual level (connection to divine, meaning-making)

Together, they provide whole-person healing: brain, body, emotions, energy, soul, spirit.

They Complement Each Other

• EMDR provides structure and evidence-based framework
• Energy healing provides spiritual depth and energetic clearing
• EMDR works with specific memories
• Energy healing works with overall energetic patterns
• EMDR is cognitive and somatic
• Energy healing is energetic and spiritual

How to Integrate EMDR and Energy Healing

Option 1: Sequential Integration

Do EMDR therapy AND energy healing sessions separately.

How it works:

• Work with EMDR therapist weekly
• Work with energy healer monthly (or as needed)
• Tell each practitioner about the other
• EMDR processes memories; energy work clears energetic residue

Benefits: Each practitioner stays in their expertise, you get both approaches

Option 2: Integrated Sessions

Work with a practitioner trained in BOTH EMDR and energy healing.

How it works:

• Therapist uses EMDR protocol
• Incorporates energy work during or between EMDR sessions
• May do chakra clearing before EMDR to prepare
• May do aura repair after EMDR to seal the work

Benefits: Seamless integration, one practitioner sees the whole picture

Option 3: Self-Directed Integration

Do EMDR with therapist, add your own energy practices at home.

How it works:

• Attend EMDR therapy sessions
• Between sessions, do chakra clearing, meditation, energy work at home
• Support EMDR processing with energetic practices

Benefits: You control the integration, lower cost

Integrated Practices

Chakra Clearing Before EMDR

Clear relevant chakras before EMDR session to prepare (10 minutes).

1. Identify which chakra holds the trauma (see Article 1)
2. Sit quietly, place hands on that chakra
3. Visualize the chakra's color
4. Breathe in light, breathe out darkness
5. See the chakra clearing and opening
6. Affirm: "I am ready to process this trauma. My energy is clear."

Why: Prepares your energy body for the deep work of EMDR

Bilateral Tapping with Chakra Focus

Combine EMDR's bilateral stimulation with chakra awareness (self-practice, 15 minutes).

1. Identify the trauma and associated chakra
2. Recall the traumatic memory briefly
3. Begin bilateral tapping (alternate tapping on knees or shoulders)
4. While tapping, focus on the affected chakra
5. Visualize the trauma energy leaving the chakra with each tap
6. Continue until you feel a shift (lighter, calmer, more neutral)

Important: This is NOT a replacement for EMDR therapy. Use only for minor distress or between therapy sessions.

Aura Repair After EMDR

Seal and protect your energy field after EMDR processing (10 minutes).

1. After EMDR session (or self-practice), sit quietly
2. Visualize your aura (energy field around your body)
3. Notice any tears, holes, or weak spots from the trauma work
4. Visualize golden healing light filling and repairing the tears
5. See your aura becoming whole, strong, sealed
6. Affirm: "My energy field is healed. I am protected. I am whole."

Soul Retrieval After EMDR

Call back soul fragments after EMDR has processed the memory (20 minutes).

1. After EMDR has reduced the charge on a traumatic memory
2. Sit in meditation, ground yourself
3. Visualize the traumatic moment
4. See your younger self (the soul fragment) still there, frozen
5. Approach with love: "I'm here. You're safe now. It's time to come home."
6. Visualize your younger self walking toward you
7. Embrace them, feel them merge back into your heart
8. Affirm: "I am whole. All parts of me are home."

The Integrated Healing Timeline

Phase 1: Preparation (Weeks 1-4)

• EMDR: History, preparation, resourcing
• Energy work: Chakra assessment, aura strengthening, grounding

Phase 2: Processing (Weeks 5-20+)

• EMDR: Desensitization and reprocessing of traumatic memories
• Energy work: Clearing chakras, cutting cords, repairing aura as memories are processed

Phase 3: Integration (Ongoing)

• EMDR: Installation of positive beliefs, body scan, closure
• Energy work: Soul retrieval, energetic sealing, spiritual integration

Finding Integrated Practitioners

What to Look For

• Licensed therapist (LCSW, LPC, psychologist) trained in EMDR
• Also trained in energy healing (Reiki, chakra work, etc.)
• Trauma-informed and ethical
• Respects both scientific and spiritual approaches
• Doesn't force spirituality on you

Questions to Ask

• "Are you trained in both EMDR and energy healing?"
• "How do you integrate the two approaches?"
• "Can I choose to do just EMDR if I'm not comfortable with energy work?"
• "Do you have experience with trauma similar to mine?"

When Integration Isn't Appropriate

• Acute crisis: Focus on stabilization first
• Active psychosis: Needs psychiatric intervention
• You're not comfortable with spirituality: EMDR alone is effective
• Practitioner isn't qualified: Don't work with someone who's only trained in one modality but claims to do both

The Science Meets Spirit Perspective

EMDR has scientific backing. Energy healing has spiritual tradition. Both are valid.

• EMDR is evidence-based, researched, proven effective
• Energy healing is ancient, experiential, spiritually grounded
• You don't have to choose one or the other
• Integrated healing honors both science and spirit

The Deeper Truth

Trauma affects every level of your being—your brain, your body, your emotions, your energy, your soul, your spirit.

Healing trauma requires addressing all these levels. EMDR heals the brain and nervous system. Energy healing heals the chakras and soul.

Together, they offer complete healing. You don't have to choose between therapy and spirituality. You can have both.

Your trauma is multidimensional. Your healing can be too.

Next: Complex PTSD and Spiritual Practice—long-term healing.