Celebrities Who Are Talking About EMDR Therapy
Written by: Mindful Living Counseling Staff
When you hear the words EMDR Therapy, you may picture someone sitting in a therapist's office following a moving light with their eyes. But EMDR Therapy is much more than that, and in recent years, more public figures have opened up about their own experiences with this type of therapy.
Celebrities including Sandra Bullock, Prince Harry, and Miley Cyrus have publicly discussed using or benefiting from EMDR Therapy. Their stories have helped bring greater awareness to a treatment that has been used for trauma and other distressing experiences for decades. Of course, someone's experience with therapy is personal, and what works for one person may not be the right approach for another. Celebrity stories shouldn't be viewed as proof that EMDR Therapy will have the same effect on everyone.
But their willingness to talk about therapy can help normalize something important: You don't have to be at a breaking point to deserve support. So, what exactly is EMDR Therapy, and why have so many public figures spoken about it?
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR is a psychotherapy approach originally developed to help people process distressing memories and experiences. Rather than requiring someone to talk extensively about every detail of a traumatic experience, EMDR uses a structured process that includes bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements or alternating taps.
The goal is not to erase a memory. Instead, EMDR can help change the way a distressing memory is stored and experienced so that the event feels less emotionally overwhelming in the present. A memory can remain part of your story without continuing to feel like it is happening right now. That distinction is an important part of understanding EMDR.
Why Are Celebrities Talking About EMDR Therapy?
For a long time, therapy was something people, especially public figures, were often reluctant to discuss. Today, that conversation is changing. When celebrities talk openly about going to therapy, they can help reduce some of the stigma surrounding mental health. When they specifically talk about an approach like EMDR, people who have never heard of it begin wondering whether it could help them too.
EMDR International Association has specifically highlighted the growing number of public figures who have shared their experiences with EMDR. Here are some of the people who have publicly discussed their experiences.
Sandra Bullock and EMDR Therapy
Actress Sandra Bullock has spoken openly about using EMDR Therapy after a 2014 home invasion. Following the traumatic experience, Bullock developed PTSD symptoms and described becoming afraid in her own home. She later discussed discovering EMDR Therapy during an appearance on Red Table Talk. EMDRIA reports that she credited the therapy with being an important part of her healing process.
In an interview with Access Hollywood, Bullock described initially being scared to try EMDR Therapy but ultimately finding it deeply healing. She also described how processing the home invasion brought up memories and experiences from earlier periods of her life.
Her story highlights something that can happen in trauma therapy: one experience can sometimes connect to older experiences that have never fully been processed. A person may seek therapy because of something that happened recently and discover that their nervous system has been carrying other experiences for much longer.
Prince Harry and EMDR Therapy
Prince Harry brought EMDR Therapy into the mainstream conversation in 2021 when he publicly discussed his mental health in the Apple TV+ documentary series The Me You Can't See, created with Oprah Winfrey.
In the series, he was filmed participating in an EMDR therapy session, including bilateral tapping. He discussed experiencing anxiety and distress connected to the death of his mother, Princess Diana, when he was a child.
His willingness to show part of the therapeutic process was significant because many people had never seen EMDR Therapy before. It also helped demonstrate that trauma doesn't always look the way people expect it to. You can carry a painful experience for years while appearing completely functional on the outside.
Miley Cyrus and EMDR Therapy
Singer Miley Cyrus has also publicly discussed her experience with EMDR. In a 2023 interview with British Vogue, Cyrus talked about using EMDR Therapy to work through painful memories and the physical sensations associated with them. Her experience speaks to an important aspect of trauma: trauma can live in the body as well as in our thoughts. Sometimes a person knows intellectually that something happened in the past, but their body continues to respond as though the danger is still present.
6 Other Celebrities Who Shared Their EMDR Therapy Experience
Jameela Jamil has discussed EMDR, including saying it profoundly changed her relationship with trauma and fear. EMDRIA itself features her. Watch the video where she discusses her experience here.
Evan Rachel Wood has publicly described EMDR therapy as “absolutely fantastic,” per People Magazine.
Comedian Whitney Cummings has explicitly talked about doing EMDR and trauma therapy; she discussed it directly in a Guardian interview.
Ashley Judd discussed returning to EMDR following the trauma surrounding her mother Naomi Judd's death.
Paris Jackson publicly discussed using EMDR for PTSD associated with years of paparazzi exposure. The EMDR Association UK specifically references her disclosure.
Kate Garraway discussed using EMDR related to the trauma surrounding her husband's severe COVID illness.
What Can EMDR Therapy Help With?
Although many public figures have discussed EMDR Therapy in relation to trauma, EMDR therapy isn't limited to one specific type of traumatic event.
A therapist may use EMDR Therapy with clients experiencing difficulties related to:
PTSD symptoms
Grief and loss
Distressing memories
Emotional experiences that continue to feel unresolved
It's also important to remember that not every difficult experience needs EMDR, and EMDR isn't necessarily the right treatment for every person. An EMDR Therapist at Mindful Living Counseling can help determine whether this approach is appropriate for your particular goals and circumstances.
How Does EMDR Therapy Actually Work?
One of the most common questions people have is: "How can moving my eyes or tapping possibly help with trauma?"
It's a reasonable question. During EMDR therapy, a therapist helps you focus on aspects of a distressing memory while engaging in bilateral stimulation. This may involve following the therapist's fingers with your eyes, alternating sounds, or other forms of bilateral stimulation. A trained therapist at Mindful Living Counseling structures and guides the process.
EMDR Therapy isn't simply about remembering something painful and talking about it over and over again. The goal is to help the brain process the memory so that the emotional distress connected to it can decrease.
If you would like to learn more about how EMDR Therapy works, read Orlando Therapist Explains How EMDR Therapy Works.
Does EMDR Therapy Erase What Happened?
This is one of the biggest misconceptions about EMDR Therapy; it doesn't make traumatic experiences disappear. You will still know that the event happened. What can change is how the memory feels. A memory that once caused intense fear, shame, anger, or helplessness may eventually become something you can remember without experiencing the same level of emotional or physical distress. You aren't erasing your history. You're changing your relationship with it.
Will EMDR Therapy Work If I Don't Have One Big Traumatic Event?
You don't necessarily need to have experienced one major event to be struggling with distressing memories, anxiety, or negative beliefs about yourself.
Sometimes people come to therapy because they notice patterns they can't explain, such as:
Constantly feel unsafe even when nothing is wrong.
Have an intense fear of rejection.
Feel responsible for everyone else's emotions.
Struggle to trust people.
Become overwhelmed by certain situations.
Know something happened years ago but still feel emotionally stuck there.
These experiences can sometimes be connected to unresolved experiences or patterns that developed over time. This is one reason working with a trained therapist can be so valuable. Therapy isn't about deciding that your experience was "bad enough." It's about understanding what you're experiencing now and determining what kind of support could help.
Is EMDR Therapy Right for You?
If you've tried to move forward from a painful experience but still feel emotionally or physically affected by it, EMDR therapy may be worth exploring with a trained therapist. At Mindful Living Counseling, EMDR is one of the approaches we use to help clients process difficult experiences, reduce distress, and develop healthier ways of responding to the past.
Therapy isn't about forgetting what happened. It's about helping you feel less controlled by what happened. If you're curious about whether EMDR Therapy could be a good fit for you, speaking with a trained EMDR therapist can help you understand what the process looks like and whether it aligns with your needs.
EMDR Therapy Additional Resources
Can EMDR Therapy Help With Anxiety?
Why Weekly EMDR Therapy Sessions Are Essential for Lasting Change
Orlando Therapist Explains How EMDR Transforms Your Life by Alleviating PTSD Symptoms
An Anxiety Therapist Shares Everything You Need to Know About Anxiety
Orlando Therapist Explains What to Expect in EMDR Therapy
Orlando Therapist Explains How EMDR Therapy Works
Is EMDR Therapy Right for You?
Therapy Services Available at Mindful Living Counseling
About EMDR Therapist: Lauran Daugherty Hahn, LMHC
Lauran Daugherty Hahn, LMHC, is a compassionate licensed therapist at Mindful Living Counseling who understands the challenges of coping with anxiety, attachment issues, and the impact of toxic relationships. With her specialized training as a certified EMDR Therapist and EMDRIA-approved consultant, she is dedicated to guiding individuals on their healing journeys.
Currently, Lauran is welcoming new clients for EMDR intensives, offering in-person therapy in Orlando. She creates a warm and supportive environment where clients can feel safe and understood as they work toward feeling less trapped by anxiety and more engaged in their daily lives. If you’re ready to take steps towards healing and empowerment, Lauran is here to support you every step of the way.