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The EMDR Workbook for Trauma and PTSD: Skills to Manage Triggers, Move Beyond Traumatic Memories, and Take Back Your Life

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Proven-effective, fast-acting techniques to rewire your brain and heal from the effects of trauma. Do you struggle with the ongoing effects of trauma? If you have experienced a traumatic event, or suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you may believe that you’re permanently damaged; that the anxiety, self-doubt, depression, and fear will never go away. The truth is that it’s possible to rewire your brain, so you can free yourself from the past, find healing, and live for the future. This workbook will show you how. In The EMDR Workbook for Trauma , you’ll discover a complete program to help you get in touch with, understand, and heal from the beliefs, feelings, and bodily sensations connected to your trauma. You’ll learn to work through past or current trauma using emotion regulation and grounding techniques, and identify the specific triggers, limiting self-beliefs, and symptoms standing in between you and lasting peace of mind. You’ll also discover how to cultivate compassion for yourself when you’re feeling stuck. Finally, you’ll find tons of tips, tools, checklists, and worksheets to lead you step by step as you process, heal, and journey toward a life free from the effects of trauma. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is proven-effective, fast-acting treatment. Unlike other approaches for treating trauma, EMDR not only treats the symptoms, but helps you identify and resolve the underlying causes so you can safely process your traumatic memories. Using the EMDR techniques in this book—such as bilateral knee tapping and other variations of bilateral stimulation—you can actually train your brain to rewire itself and return to normal functioning, despite negative past experiences. If you’re ready to address your trauma with confidence, this workbook will gently lead you on the path to healing.

168 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2023

44 people are currently reading
2307 people want to read

About the author

Megan Boardman

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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
146 reviews
March 11, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and New Harbinger Publications for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As someone without access to an EMDR specialist, this book seemed like it would be helpful to me to try and implement some of the methods used myself. Unfortunately, since the book is not out yet, the links to the audio exercises were dead, so I wasn't able to use those. The exercises themselves are lengthly and it would have been very difficult to apply them through just reading the steps. The audio should have been available to the ARC readers. That being said, the exercises seem interesting and in-depth, but I cannot speak on if they work or not. I thought the book was written in a concise, easy to understand manner and I look forward to trying out the exercises when the online audio becomes available.
Profile Image for Lani.
113 reviews7 followers
June 13, 2023
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was intrigued by this workbook as I am currently in therapy for PTSD and using the EMDR technique in my sessions. It was great to read how this technique was developed as well as how its helped so many.
Profile Image for Riley K. .
842 reviews15 followers
April 11, 2023
Do you struggle with the ongoing effects of trauma? If you have experienced a traumatic event, or suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you may believe that you’re permanently damaged; that the anxiety, self-doubt, depression, and fear will never go away. The truth is that it’s possible to rewire your brain, so you can free yourself from the past, find healing, and live for the future. This workbook will show you how.

In The EMDR Workbook for Trauma, you’ll discover a complete program to help you get in touch with, understand, and heal from the beliefs, feelings, and bodily sensations connected to your trauma. You’ll learn to work through past or current trauma using emotion regulation and grounding techniques, and identify the specific triggers, limiting self-beliefs, and symptoms standing in between you and lasting peace of mind. You’ll also discover how to cultivate compassion for yourself when you’re feeling stuck. Finally, you’ll find tons of tips, tools, checklists, and worksheets to lead you step by step as you process, heal, and journey toward a life free from the effects of trauma.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is proven-effective, fast-acting treatment. Unlike other approaches for treating trauma, EMDR not only treats the symptoms, but helps you identify and resolve the underlying causes so you can safely process your traumatic memories. Using the EMDR techniques in this book—such as bilateral knee tapping and other variations of bilateral stimulation—you can actually train your brain to rewire itself and return to normal functioning, despite negative past experiences.

If you’re ready to address your trauma with confidence, this workbook will gently lead you on the path to healing.

I cannot recommend this workbook enough. I will recommend this to others.
Profile Image for Georgia.
354 reviews3 followers
March 8, 2023
Boardman is an EMDR therapist who has helped to develop a EMDR self help book. This book is to be used in conjunction with an EMDR therapist. It provides skills you can use between sessions at home. Please don’t use this independently as you are being supported to access trauma and without appropriate support this can trigger far worse trauma than it is helpful. EMDR is proven to be an effective trauma processing therapy by helping change the pathways our brain accesses these traumatic memories. Like all therapies however, there is no quick fix answer and are needed to be completed in conjunction with a trained therapist. I work in therapy and for my own processing need to work with my own therapist. Processing our own thoughts, feelings and traumas is not something humans are able to process on their own.

Thank you to NetGalley and New Harbringer Publications for this advanced copy!
Profile Image for wonderfullyweird88.
877 reviews16 followers
April 18, 2025
This workbook offers a solid introduction to EMDR and provides some useful exercises for understanding and beginning to process trauma. It’s written in a clear and accessible way, which makes it easy to follow, even for those who are new to the concept.

That said, I believe this book is best used as a supplement, not a standalone solution. Trauma work can be very intense and personal, and trying to go through EMDR exercises alone can be overwhelming or even triggering. It’s important to work with a trained therapist when using this kind of approach to make sure the process is safe and effective.

Overall, the workbook has value, but it’s not a replacement for professional help. If you're considering it, I’d highly recommend using it alongside therapy for the best results.

I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Ashley Stephens.
75 reviews5 followers
April 8, 2023
I have only gotten started working through The EMDR Workbook for Trauma, but I am already impressed. I have known from friend’s experience that EMDR is highly effective in moving through old trauma, but didn’t find it easily accessible for myself. Thanks to the amazing resource, I can now utilize this healing tool in my own home on a timeline that works for me. I love the way that the process behind why EMDR works. It helps to know the mechanics behind the tools. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!
Profile Image for Kelsey Rhodes.
2,012 reviews33 followers
March 3, 2023
4/5 stars! As someone in the mental health field, I was excited to read this EMDR reference. I appreciate that this book made the concept of trauma and PTSD and the application of EMDR palatable for the common reader. This is a great resource for individuals interested in working through their trauma through EMDR.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Profile Image for JadersCorner.
245 reviews3 followers
April 24, 2023
ARC REVIEW NETGALLEY

This seems to be a well thought out and mapped out book, but in the netgalley version everything is cramped together, hard to follow if actually trying to work it like a workbook. I’m interested in seeing the final version in print, giving allotted space to use as a workbook, and have a more clear workbook format. I would recommend this to my friends and fellow coaches therapist etc. even to pair with a therapy yoga routine
232 reviews3 followers
December 28, 2023
Thank you New Harbinger Publications for the E-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I had no idea what to expect with this EMDR Workbook. Though I have completed some EMDR myself in a therapy environment. I definitely feel like it is always a good idea to see a therapist as you complete this workbook. However, this book is such a great resource for those doing EMDR. I felt like I was way more mindful of the process of EMDR as I read this book. I recommend this to anyone who wants to have a more tangible way to go through therapy. Often times in therapy we do not get handouts or worksheets. This is a great way for patients to reflect and go through EMDR exercises on their own after an appointment. I would hope that more therapists might consider offering or referring patients to using this valuable resource. I also think this would be a great book to also listen to through an audiobook.
Profile Image for Heidi.
284 reviews11 followers
July 2, 2023
This book is well written, informational, accessible, and practical. It hits all the high notes for what I would want in a workbook and I like having EMDR being brought in as a tool that can be used at home. The activities and reflections are accessible and meaningful. I’d recommend this book.

I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. The opinions are mine alone.
Profile Image for Ann T.
430 reviews
December 30, 2023
Having heard amazing things about EMDR is was really grateful to be provided an ARC of this workbook.
It gave great background into how EMDR came about and is a fabulous resource to accompany someone through their therapeutic journey with a professional .
Thank you New Harbinger and NetGalley for this informative, really interesting ARC.
Profile Image for Epar3.
10 reviews
September 17, 2024
BFF for between therapy sessions

This is a helpful companion to gather and strengthen skills, tools, exercises and insights to navigate change in all levels of my life and maybe yours.
Profile Image for Gisele.
90 reviews
March 28, 2025
To be honest I was a bit lost....... I think I need to learn some more about EMDR first before I try applying it.
Profile Image for Alizabeth.
59 reviews4 followers
March 14, 2023
A great resource!!
I love how practical this book is. The author describes these big concepts into easy to understand language. I am a counselor in training and am excited to be able to use this as a reference for working with clients when I become licensed.

#TheEMDRWorkbookforTraumaandPTSD #NetGalley

I received this book from NetGallery.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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