After our first conversation with Alana Trevino about EMDR therapy, one thing became clear… people wanted to know more.

• What actually happens during EMDR?
• Do you have to relive traumatic events?
• What does a session really feel like?
• And why are so many first responders finding healing through this process?

In this encore episode of Code Forty4, Amy Cortez welcomes Alana Trevino back for a deeper conversation focused specifically on what to expect during EMDR therapy and how it helps the brain and nervous system process trauma in a healthier way.

Together, they discuss:

• What happens during a typical EMDR session
• Whether you have to talk through every traumatic detail
• How EMDR helps “unstick” trauma from the nervous system
• Why trauma affects the body, emotions, and beliefs
• The role of eye movements and bilateral stimulation
• Why first responders often suppress trauma to survive the job
• How healing can happen without re-traumatization

This episode is especially important for:

• Law enforcement officers
• First responders
• Spouses and family members
• Anyone carrying unresolved trauma

EMDR is not about erasing memories.
It’s about helping the brain properly process painful experiences so they no longer control your nervous system, emotions, relationships, or daily life.

If you or someone you love has ever been hesitant to seek therapy because of fear, uncertainty, or stigma, this episode offers a real, honest look into what healing can actually look like.

🎧 Not familiar with EMDR? Listen to Episode 9 first with Alana Trevino for a foundational understanding of EMDR.
🎙️ Code Forty4 exists to help first responders and their families recognize, respond, and support mental health before the line breaks.

RESOURCES: 

Contact Alana Trevino:  https://www.frontlinewellnessllc.com/contact

Frontline Wellness: https://www.frontlinewellnessllc.com/

Find a EMDR specialist in your state:  https://www.emdria.org/find-an-emdr-therapist/

#EMDR #FirstResponderMentalHealth #LawEnforcement #TraumaHealing #PTSD #MentalHealthAwareness #CodeForty4 #FirstResponderWellness #EMDRTherapy

Chapter: 

02:03 - What exactly is EMDR?

04:05 - Does EMDR erase memories?

07:00 - Walking through a typical EMDR session:

09:40 - Can I avoid reliving trauma during therapy?

12:30 - Addressing complex trauma and multiple incidents:

16:00 - How physical sensations manifest during EMDR sessions

20:00 - What does emotional processing look like?

24:00 - The importance of closure and containment in therapy sessions

28:00 - Client control: stopping or pausing EMDR at any moment

33:00 - What to expect after a session:

37:00 - Supporting loved ones after EMDR: respecting their process

42:00 - Quick relief in a single session for specific triggers?

45:00 - Healing versus coping: what does long-term recovery look like?

50:00 - Can EMDR make trauma disappear?

55:00 - EMDR for spouses and children

60:00 - Success stories of transformative healing among first responders

65:00 - Ongoing maintenance and the importance of continued support

68:00 - EMDR as a normal part of mental health care