Is EMDR Magic?

Is EMDR magic? No—but it can feel that way. In this episode of 7 Days Inside: EMDR, Kyle Lincoln, a counselor in Salem, Massachusetts, pulls back the curtain on why EMDR works without any smoke and mirrors—just solid neuroscience and skilled guidance.

Together with Kellyn, Kyle unpacks what your brain is doing during bilateral stimulation and why results can feel “magical” even when the mechanisms are anything but.

You’ll hear a clear, down-to-earth tour of four leading explanations for EMDR’s effects—the Orienting Response, Working Memory taxation, Memory Reconsolidation, and REM-like processing—and how they likely work together in real sessions. Then the Essential Concept segment introduces TICES (Trigger, Image, Cognition, Emotion, Sensation), a simple map therapists use to target the most charged parts of a memory. Finally, the Skill-Building Exercise guides you through the Spiral Technique, a Phase Two resource for shifting stuck sensations in the body.

Notable takeaways and themes:

• EMDR isn’t hypnosis or “magic”; it’s structured attention paired with BLS that keeps you present and prevents flooding.

• The therapist’s role matters—safety, pacing, and technique turn raw mechanisms into meaningful change.

• TICES helps transform a blurry, overwhelming memory into specific, workable parts.

• The Spiral Technique gives activation a direction, allowing tension to move and release rather than be suppressed.

• The goal isn’t to erase a memory, but to change its emotional imprint so daily life isn’t hijacked by the past.

If this episode helped demystify EMDR for you, follow the show and share it with someone who’s curious about how healing actually happens.