EMDR and the train metaphor

CKTherapy - understanding EMDR
Let’s talk about EMDR — and the train analogy.
“You can’t go back and change the beginning,
but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
– C.S. Lewis
If you’ve experienced trauma or carry emotional wounds from the past, you may know what it’s like to feel stuck — reliving moments you wish you could leave behind.
EMDR therapy doesn’t erase what happened… but it helps you step out of its shadow.
What is EMDR?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a gentle, structured, evidence-based therapy that helps the brain heal from overwhelming experiences — like trauma, grief, or persistent anxiety.
When something painful happens, the brain can sometimes get “stuck” in that moment.
Instead of processing the memory and moving forward, it lingers — showing up as flashbacks, panic, negative beliefs (“I’m not safe,” “I’m not enough”), or even physical symptoms.
EMDR helps the brain do what it was meant to do: process, heal, and move forward.
The train metaphor:
Imagine you’re sitting in a train car. You’re grounded. Safe. Present.
Outside the window, scenes from the past begin to pass by — thoughts, emotions, sensations. But you’re not in them. You’re observing them.
And if anything feels overwhelming, you can always bring your focus back to the train — to the safety of this moment.
Healing with EMDR happens one step at a time. At your own pace. With support.
It’s a process of reclaiming your life, memory by memory, story by story — so the past no longer controls the present.
Common concerns EMDR supports:
– PTSD & trauma (including childhood trauma)
– Anxiety, phobias, panic attacks
– Grief and loss
– Disturbing memories
– Negative self-beliefs (“I’m not good enough”)
– Some chronic pain & performance blocks
What EMDR isn’t:
– It’s not hypnosis.
– You’re fully aware and in control.
– You don’t need to share every detail of what happened.
And it’s okay to start exactly where you are.
If you’d like to get in touch to learn about EMDR with one of our qualified and experienced practitioners get in touch via our contact page.