EMDR & Narrative Therapy: Two Paths Toward Healing, One Destination
I know what you’re thinking, EMDR and Narrative therapy couldn’t be further from being alike. But, I choose to integrate different therapeutic modalities to best meet our clients’ unique needs. One question that comes up is: Can EMDR and Narrative Therapy really work together? Aren’t they kind of... contradictory?
It’s true—on the surface, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Narrative Therapy seem like they come from different worlds. EMDR is structured, neurobiological, and focused on processing trauma stored in the body and nervous system. Narrative Therapy, on the other hand, is dialogical, meaning-centered, and rooted in story and language. But despite their differences, these two modalities can powerfully complement each other in practice.
Let’s explore how.
The Contradiction: Structure vs. Story
EMDR operates under the assumption that trauma is stored in the brain in a maladaptive way, and through bilateral stimulation, we can help the brain reprocess these memories. It’s a bottom-up approach, working with the nervous systemand sensorimotor memory to reduce emotional intensity and restore adaptive meaning.
Narrative Therapy, meanwhile, sees problems as separate from people. It focuses on the stories we tell ourselves—and are told by others—about who we are. It asks: “What dominant story has taken hold here? And what’s been left out?” Rather than targeting trauma memory directly, it works through language, metaphor, and identity reconstruction.
This leads to a natural tension:
EMDR says, “Let’s go into the memory and reprocess it.”
Narrative Therapy says, “Let’s examine how the memory has shaped the story—and whether that story still serves you.”
The Intersection: Meaning-Making
Despite their philosophical differences, both therapies are deeply invested in one shared goal: meaning-making.
In EMDR, reprocessing often leads to new insights—“It wasn’t my fault,” “I did the best I could,” “I’m safe now.” These are adaptive beliefs that arise after the body has released the emotional charge of trauma. EMDR, when successful, doesn’t just reduce distress—it reshapes meaning.
In Narrative Therapy, meaning is co-created between client and therapist. Clients begin to author new stories that reflect their values, skills, and hopes. They become active agents in their own lives, rather than passive characters in a problem-saturated plot.
When used together, Narrative Therapy can help clients prepare for EMDR by externalizing the problem and identifying which stories feel stuck or incomplete. After EMDR, Narrative Therapy can hold space for integration—helping clients weave their new insights into the broader narrative of their lives.
How We Integrate Both at Abbey Rose Therapy
Here’s what an integrated approach might look like:
Phase 1 (Narrative-Focused Prep): We explore the client’s life story, paying attention to how trauma has shaped identity. We identify dominant problem-saturated narratives and begin the process of externalization.
Phase 2 (EMDR Processing): When the client is ready, we use EMDR to target specific memories that are “stuck” in the nervous system. We focus on shifting emotional responses and uncovering adaptive beliefs.
Phase 3 (Narrative Integration): After EMDR, we return to the broader narrative—What does this new insight mean for your story? What has shifted in how you see yourself? What new chapter is emerging?
This kind of integration allows for depth and flexibility. EMDR helps release trauma on a neurobiological level, while Narrative Therapy offers a space to make sense of the healing, give it words, and carry it forward.
In Closing: Two Lenses, One Whole Person
We don’t have to choose between brain and story, memory and meaning, body and identity. Healing is not linear—it’s layered. By integrating EMDR and Narrative Therapy, we can honor both the biological and narrative truths of trauma.
Abbey Vince, AMFT
