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Recently, Miley Cyrus opened up in a New York Times interview about how EMDR therapy helped her process deep emotional pain and find peace after trauma.
Got hit with the paywall? (We know the feeling all too well.) Don’t worry—we’ll catch you up. Miley described EMDR as a breakthrough in her healing journey, and she’s not alone. Public figures like Prince Harry, Sandra Bullock, and Chrissy Teigen have also praised EMDR for its transformative power.
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a powerful psychotherapy approach that helps people process emotional pain, trauma, and anxiety—without having to relive every moment in detail.
Common issues EMDR can help with include:
EMDR follows a structured 8-phase approach guided by a trained therapist. A key element is bilateral stimulation—eye movements, tapping, or sounds—that helps your brain reprocess stuck or overwhelming memories.
It can help you:
In one session, Miley visualized herself riding a train, watching her life pass by like a movie. As she explored her performance anxiety, she said:
“I just want them to love me so bad.”
Her therapist asked, “When’s the first time you felt that way?”—and the train began moving backward. She saw her mother as a baby being handed to her biological parents, feeling unwanted. She then visualized herself and her mother being passed between caretakers, all carrying the same emotional thread.
She later shared:
“That wasn’t mine, it was my mom’s. It pained me for her to carry it, so I’ve been carrying it for her. I do that sometimes. That’s something I’m working on.”
As the session continued, she arrived at a traumatic outdoor memory, but saw herself surrounded by people and even animals who brought her peace. They played ring-around-the-rosie. After that, her stage fright was gone.
While Miley’s session was vivid and symbolic, not everyone experiences it the same way. Some people:
But the goal is always the same:
To reprocess and release painful emotions and the beliefs attached to them.
You might benefit from EMDR if:
Our NYC-based therapists specialize in EMDR and trauma-informed care. We create a safe, warm space to help you heal at your own pace.
At Soho Integrative EMDR ,we offer EMDR therapy both in-person and online for clients across New York.
Book a free consultation to learn how EMDR can help you feel more grounded, clear, and free.