EMDR and Repressed Memories: What You Need to Know About Memory Recovery in Trauma Therapy
For many trauma survivors, one of the most confusing experiences is not being able to remember everything.
There may be flashes of imagery, strong body reactions, or emotional overwhelm that seem tied to something—but the memory itself feels out of reach.
This naturally raises questions like:
Can EMDR bring back repressed memories?
Is it safe to try?
What happens if something surfaces that I wasn’t prepared for?
These are important—and valid—questions. In this blog, I’ll walk you through how EMDR works when it comes to repressed or suppressed memories, what the research and ethics say, and how we approach this kind of work with care and safety.
What Are Repressed or Suppressed Memories?
Repressed memories are memories that have been pushed out of conscious awareness, often as a protective response to overwhelming or traumatic experiences.
Sometimes they were never fully encoded in the brain in a traditional narrative form. Other times, they’re stored in the body and nervous system but inaccessible to conscious thought.
Suppressed memories may refer more to consciously avoiding certain memories or emotions—but the terms are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation.
What we do know:
Trauma impacts how memory is stored. When the brain is in survival mode, it prioritizes safety, not storytelling. So details, sequencing, or even entire experiences can get fragmented or go offline. This doesn’t mean those memories are gone—it means they may be stored differently.
How EMDR Can Access Suppressed Memories
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy that helps reprocess traumatic experiences using bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements, tapping, or audio tones.
When we engage the brain in this way, we’re not “digging for lost memories.” Instead, EMDR helps create space for the nervous system to safely process what’s already there—often stored as images, emotions, body sensations, or core beliefs.
During EMDR therapy, clients sometimes experience:
Vivid imagery they hadn’t consciously remembered
Physical sensations tied to earlier experiences
Shifts in beliefs like “It was my fault” to “I did the best I could”
Emotional releases without clear memories attached
In some cases, new memories or details may emerge—but this isn’t guaranteed or forced. The process unfolds naturally, guided by your nervous system’s readiness and capacity to integrate what surfaces.
Is It Safe to Recover Lost Memories with EMDR?
This is where trauma-informed care and ethical practice are essential.
Memory is not a perfect recording. It’s influenced by perception, time, stress, and suggestion. In EMDR therapy, we don’t plant ideas or encourage clients to “search” for trauma. We follow what comes up—and stay curious without jumping to conclusions.
What’s most important is that:
The pace is slow and titrated to your nervous system
The therapist does not suggest or interpret specific events
Emotional safety and grounding are always prioritized
You are in control of how far to go at any point
It’s not about "unlocking" a lost memory—it’s about helping the brain and body integrate fragmented or unprocessed experiences that are already there.
Clinical Considerations and Myths
Myth: EMDR causes false memories.
Fact: EMDR does not implant or suggest memories. The process is client-led and focuses on processing what naturally surfaces.
Myth: EMDR is only about memory recovery.
Fact: EMDR is designed to reduce the distress tied to unresolved experiences—whether you have a clear memory or not.
Myth: You have to remember everything to heal.
Fact: Healing can happen without full recall. EMDR helps your brain complete the processing that trauma disrupted—even if the memory is fuzzy, fragmented, or embodied more than verbal.
When EMDR for Suppressed Trauma May Be Helpful
EMDR can be especially helpful when someone:
Has intense emotional or physical reactions they don’t fully understand
Suspects early trauma but can’t access specific memories
Struggles with chronic anxiety, shame, or relationship patterns linked to childhood
Has a vague sense of “something happened,” even if they can’t name it
In these cases, we don’t push for clarity. We follow the body’s cues, strengthen internal resources, and allow the brain to do what it was always meant to do: heal.
Final Thoughts
If you’re curious—and cautious—about how EMDR works with repressed or forgotten memories, you’re not alone. This is sensitive work, and it deserves care, nuance, and support from a trauma-informed therapist who won’t rush or pathologize the process.
The goal isn’t to recover memories—it’s to help your nervous system feel safe again.
Ready to learn more or explore if EMDR is right for you?
Curious whether EMDR is the right next step for your healing journey?
I offer virtual EMDR therapy to adults throughout California and Nevada, with a focus on trauma recovery, nervous system healing, and lasting change.
📍 Learn more or schedule a consultation at: www.MyEMDRLA.com
Michelle Nosrati, LCSW
Trauma Specialist | EMDR Therapist
Licensed in California & Nevada
Secure Telehealth Services Available
www.MyEMDRLA.com