EMDR for Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions often rooted in emotional pain, trauma, or negative beliefs about the self. While traditional talk therapy plays a vital role in treatment, more therapists are turning to EMDR therapy as a powerful and evidence-based tool to support healing.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a form of psychotherapy developed to help people process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional charge. It uses bilateral stimulation—usually eye movements, taps, or sounds—to activate both hemispheres of the brain, allowing distressing memories to be reprocessed in a more adaptive and less painful way. 

Eating disorders are often symptoms of deeper emotional pain or unresolved trauma. EMDR can help in identifying and reprocessing memories that contribute to feelings of shame, low self-worth, or a need for control—common drivers of disordered eating behaviors. Clients with eating disorders often struggle with intense anxiety related to food, body image or comparison. EMDR helps reduce the emotional charge of these triggers, making it easier to develop healthier coping strategies and a more compassionate relationship with food and body.

At the heart of many eating disorders are negative beliefs like “I’m not good enough,” or “I don’t deserve to eat.” EMDR helps transform these beliefs into more empowering and truthful ones, such as “I am worthy,” and “My body deserves care”. 

Eating disorders can feel overwhelming, but recovery is possible—and EMDR offers a powerful path forward. By addressing trauma, anxiety, and core beliefs, EMDR helps clients build greater emotional resilience and self-acceptance.