Understanding EMDR and Polyvagal Theory (Without the Therapy Jargon)
Last Updated December 27, 2025
Plain-language explanations for people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or confused by therapy terms
Entering trauma therapy can feel overwhelming—especially when clinicians use unfamiliar language that makes healing feel more complicated than it needs to be. Many people tell us they leave sessions thinking, “I’m not sure what all of that meant… or how it’s supposed to help me.”
This guide breaks down two of the most commonly referenced trauma-therapy frameworks—EMDR and Polyvagal Theory—in clear, everyday language, so you can better understand your options and feel more empowered when choosing care.
Ready for deeper healing?
If you’ve resonated with this post, you may be a good fit for IFS-informed EMDR therapy designed for people who feel stuck in therapy.
What Is EMDR Therapy? (Explained Simply)
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Despite the long name, the idea behind EMDR is surprisingly straightforward.
EMDR in plain language
EMDR is a body-based trauma therapy that helps your brain and nervous system finish processing experiences that were overwhelming or never fully resolved.
Instead of only talking about what happened, EMDR helps your system digest those experiences so they no longer feel as intense, reactive, or present-day.
People often seek EMDR when:
They feel stuck in patterns they understand intellectually but can’t change
Past experiences still trigger strong emotional or physical reactions
Weekly talk therapy hasn’t created the relief they hoped for
The AIP Model: Why EMDR Works
EMDR is based on something called the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model.
Here’s the simplest way to understand it:
Your brain is wired to heal—but trauma can interrupt that process.
Just like your body knows how to heal a cut, your nervous system knows how to recover from stressful experiences. When something is too much, too fast, or too overwhelming, the experience can get “stuck,” along with the emotions, body sensations, and beliefs that came with it.
EMDR helps your system re-file those stuck memories, so they no longer feel like they’re happening right now.
Are you a visual learner? Check out our EMDR + Your Brain Graphic HERE.
What Is Bilateral Stimulation?
During EMDR, therapists use bilateral stimulation, which simply means alternating stimulation on the left and right sides of the body.
This might look like:
Guided eye movements
Gentle tapping with hands or feet
Alternating tones through headphones
Bilateral stimulation supports the brain in processing information differently, allowing distressing memories to soften and integrate more fully.
What Is Polyvagal Theory? (And Why Therapists Talk About It So Much)
Polyvagal Theory helps explain why your body reacts the way it does under stress—and why you might feel calm one moment and shut down or anxious the next.
It was developed by Stephen Porges and centers on the role of the vagus nerve, a key part of your nervous system.
At its core, Polyvagal Theory explains how your body constantly scans for safety or danger, often without your conscious awareness.
Ready for deeper healing?
If you’ve resonated with this post, you may be a good fit for IFS-informed EMDR therapy designed for people who feel stuck in therapy.
Fight, Flight, and Freeze—Revisited
Most people are familiar with fight-or-flight, but Polyvagal Theory expands this understanding.
Fight / Flight: Mobilized energy—anxiety, anger, urgency, panic
Freeze / Shutdown: Collapse, numbness, exhaustion, dissociation
These aren’t failures or flaws—they’re adaptive survival responses shaped by your experiences.
Ventral Vagal: When You Feel Safe and Connected
When your ventral vagal system is active, you may notice:
A sense of calm or groundedness
Connection with others
Curiosity, clarity, and emotional presence
Trauma therapy—especially EMDR and IFS-informed work—focuses on helping clients experience felt safety, not just talk about it.
Dorsal Vagal: Understanding Shutdown and Numbness
The dorsal vagal state is associated with immobilization or collapse. This might feel like:
Emotional numbness
Fatigue or heaviness
Wanting to withdraw or disappear
Rather than pushing clients out of this state, trauma-informed therapy works gently and respectfully, helping the nervous system move toward safety at its own pace.
Co-Regulation: Why the Relationship Matters
Co-regulation refers to the way our nervous systems respond to one another.
In therapy, this means:
Safety is created between therapist and client
Healing happens in the context of attunement, pacing, and trust
You don’t have to “self-regulate” perfectly to heal
This is especially important for people with complex trauma, attachment wounds, or long-term stress.
How EMDR and Polyvagal Theory Work Together
In simple terms:
EMDR helps process and resolve past experiences that are still activating your system
Polyvagal Theory helps explain why your body reacts the way it does—and how safety is restored
Together, they support healing that is not just cognitive, but deeply embodied.
Considering Trauma Therapy or an EMDR Intensive?
If you feel stuck despite insight, exhausted from coping, or overwhelmed by your nervous system’s responses, you may benefit from trauma-informed care that works with both the mind and body.
At IFS EMDR Therapy Group, we offer:
We serve adults located anywhere willing to travel to Pennsylvania for an intensive, and virtual ongoing therapy for adults located in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, and Colorado.
👉 Schedule a free consultation to explore whether this approach is right for you.
If you are in crisis, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.
More Reading:
How Your Nervous System Influences Your Mental Health
Is A Therapy Intensive Right For You? Here’s What to Expect
Understanding Trauma: Symptoms and Healing
About the Author
This post was written by Morgan Levine, LCSW a licensed trauma therapist in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. Morgan is a Certified EMDR Therapist specializing in IFS-Informed EMDR and EMDR Intensives—including in-person immersive retreats and virtual multi-day formats.
She helps adults who feel “stuck” in therapy find deeper, lasting change by addressing the roots of perfectionism, overworking, anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, obsessive or compulsive patterns, attachment wounds, and complex or single-incident trauma.
Learn more at ifsemdrtherapy.com/emdr-intensives.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health care nor a recommendation or endorsement for any particular treatment plan, organization, provider, professional service, or product. The information may change without notice. No claims, promises, or guarantees are made about the completeness, accuracy, currency, content or quality of information linked. You assume all responsibility and risk for any use of the information.
IFS EMDR Therapy Group is an outpatient therapy group founded by Morgan Levine. We specialize in IFS-Informed EMDR to help adults struggling with the effects of living in dysfunctional systems move toward healing and wholeness. Our therapists work virtually with clients living throughout Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Florida. Morgan Levine also provides consultation to therapists worldwide.
