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What is Looping in EMDR Therapy?
- Jul 1, 2020
- 4 min read
In EMDR Therapy, there is a common term referred to as "Looping". Looping is when an individual in is the middle of Phase 4 of EMDR therapy, but the processing is blocked. A client is stuck on negative thoughts or beliefs. Despite the use of eye movements or taps (forms of bilateral stimulation), the client seems to be in a rut of negativity. Adaptive Information is not coming into the reprocessing.
Why Does Looping Happen during EMDR Therapy Reprocessing
Looping can happen for a number of reasons. The most common is usually because the client has a significant trauma history, so there are a lot of thoughts and memories that may be overwhelming the client and making it difficult for adaptive information to get through.
Examples of complex trauma include:
childhood abuse
emotional neglect
sexual molestation
domestic violence
sexual exploitation and/or trafficking
cultural dislocation
repeated exposure to traumas as a first responder/front line worker
etc.
How Do You Work Through EMDR Looping
When a client is looping in the EMDR reprocessing phaser, there are several interventions that can be helpful to promote the integration of adaptive information:
Assess for a blocking belief
A client may sometimes struggle with an intense negative cognition, such as "It's my fault". By assessing for a belief that may be getting in the way, we can then determine if the use of a cognitive interweave is appropriate.
Cognitive interweaves
intentional strategies used to "jump-start" the reprocessing, such as bringing "online" information that the client already knows but is not integrating into the process session
Use EMDr (restricted reprocessing)
this is when your therapist will restrict the channels of association so that the focus of the reprocessing can be more controlled. THis is in contrast to EMDR (big R), in which the channels of association are allowed to flow more freely.
Assess for feeder memories
sometimes there will be another memory that has not come into the processing, but that is contributing to the maladaptively stored information. Uncovered this feeder memory can help get things moving again.
There are several other ways to help get things moving if EMDR reprocessing seems blocked. Working with an EMDRIA Approved Consultant can help to conceptualize specific cases and figure out what may be the best intervention for the client. No two individuals are alike, so what works for one person, may not work for the other!
About the Author
Dana Carretta-Stein is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and founder of Peaceful Living Mental Health Counseling, PLLC, and Carretta Consulting in Scarsdale, NY. She specializes in clinical psychotherapy to treat children, adolescents and adults with anxiety, behavior and trauma difficulties. She is a certified EMDR therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant, helping other EMDR therapists can skill and confidence in the use of EMDR therapy with their clients. Dana is also a business coach for wellness practitioners who are looking to build and grow their private practice.
For more information, visit dana.carretta.com
About Peaceful Living Mental Health Counseling
Peaceful Living Mental Health Counseling offers therapy for children, teens, and adults.
We provide in-person sessions in Scarsdale and Westchester, NY, and virtual therapy across NY, NJ, CO, CT, and FL.
Our work focuses on helping you understand your experiences with compassion, not judgment.
We support clients navigating:
Read Relevant Blogs
Go Deeper in Your Healing Journey
🎁 Learn More About The EMDR Therapy Progress Journal
📚 Check out our blogs, where our therapists break down EMDR concepts, trauma education, and practical healing strategies you can start today.
Our Trauma-Informed Therapists at Peaceful Living
At Peaceful Living Mental Health Counseling, our therapists are trained in trauma-informed approaches, including EMDR therapy.
We work with children, teens, and adults who are navigating anxiety, trauma, life transitions, and emotional overwhelm.
Our approach centers on understanding your story, your nervous system, and what you need to feel supported.
A Simple Way to Track Your Healing Between Sessions
Healing does not only happen in the therapy room. Often, the shifts you are making show up in small, everyday moments that are easy to overlook.
The EMDR Therapy Progress Journal is designed to help you gently track those changes. It gives you space to reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and patterns in a way that feels structured but not overwhelming.
Many clients find that writing things down helps them:
Notice progress they might otherwise miss
Stay connected to what they are working on in therapy
Better understand their triggers, responses, and growth over time
This is not about doing therapy “perfectly.” It is about creating a space to stay curious about your experience and support your healing at your own pace.
If you are looking for a simple way to stay grounded between sessions, this can be a helpful addition to your therapy work.