EMDR therapy visuals are images that support Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a structured therapy for trauma. EMDR asks clients to hold parts of a difficult memory in mind while doing bilateral stimulation, usually guided eye movements or tapping. Much of the work happens without long verbal explanations, which makes clear images a natural companion: they help explain the process, give clients steadying resources, and make progress easier to notice.
This post covers where illustration fits into EMDR, what kinds of images help, and the boundaries to respect.
A quick overview of EMDR
EMDR was developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and is now recommended for post-traumatic stress in several clinical guidelines. Therapy moves through eight phases, from history taking and preparation to processing and closure. The EMDR International Association explains the phases in plain language. Illustration is most useful in the preparation and education stages, before and around the processing itself.
Where illustration helps
Explaining the therapy
Many clients feel nervous because EMDR sounds strange. A simple illustrated explainer, showing a memory as a tangled ball that slowly loosens, makes the process less intimidating.
Safe or calm place images
Therapists often help clients build an inner “calm place” before processing. Some clients find it easier to start from a picture: a quiet shore, a lit window, a small room with a door they control.
Resource figures
EMDR preparation can include imagining protective or nurturing figures. Illustrated characters give clients a starting point they can adapt in their own mind.
Progress maps
A visual map of phases helps clients see where they are, which can reduce anxiety about how long therapy will take.
Design choices for trauma-informed images
- No graphic content. Images should never depict traumatic events directly.
- Calm compositions. Symmetry and open space make images feel stable. I explain why in Symmetry in Trauma Art.
- Neutral, adaptable figures. Simple characters let clients project their own details.
- Limited palette. A soft, consistent palette avoids overstimulation.
Respecting the limits
Illustrations support the therapist; they don’t guide processing. Any image used during sessions should be chosen by the clinician, who knows the client’s history and triggers. For public education, the same images can help people understand what EMDR is before they look for a qualified therapist.
The UK’s NICE guideline on post-traumatic stress disorder is a useful reference for where EMDR sits among recommended treatments.
Building a set of images for a practice
Therapists who commission EMDR visuals usually need a small, consistent set rather than one picture. A typical set might include:
- a one-page illustrated explainer of the eight phases
- four to six calm-place scenes in different settings (shore, forest, room, garden), so clients can choose
- a few neutral resource figures: a protector, a wise guide, a nurturing presence
- a simple “container” image for closing sessions, such as a box or vault with a lid
Offering choice matters. A beach that soothes one client may unsettle another. Several options in the same calm style let clients pick what feels safe, while the practice keeps a consistent look across its materials.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use illustrations to do EMDR on myself?
No. EMDR should be done with a trained therapist. Images can help you understand the therapy and feel calmer, but they’re not a self-help version of it.
Who commissions EMDR visuals?
EMDR therapists, trauma clinics, training organisations and mental health publishers.
Can images be personalised for a practice?
Yes. A practice can have its own set of calm-place and resource images in a consistent style.
For related work, see trauma illustration and DBT illustrated, or contact me to talk about your practice’s materials.
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