EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is an effective treatment for trauma and PTSD. It works by having the patient recall distressing memories while performing bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movements or hand tapping, which seems to help process and recode the traumatic memory so it is no longer distressing. Research shows EMDR can help reduce PTSD symptoms and may only require a few sessions to work.