For decades, therapy was something people kept quiet about — often whispered behind closed doors or only shared during times of crisis. But today, a shift is happening. Celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Prince Harry, and Sandra Bullock are openly talking about therapy and emotional healing. And one specific method is rising to the top: EMDR therapy.
So, what is EMDR, and why are so many people — including A-list celebrities — turning to it to process trauma, anxiety, and painful memories?
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a powerful, evidence-based therapy developed by Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s. Originally designed to treat PTSD in veterans, it’s now widely used for:
- Childhood trauma
- Abuse and neglect
- Addiction
- Anxiety and panic
- Grief and loss
- People-pleasing and codependency
EMDR helps people reprocess traumatic or overwhelming experiences so they no longer feel “stuck” in the nervous system. It uses bilateral stimulation (like guided eye movements, tapping, or sound) to unlock the brain’s natural healing abilities.
You don’t need to talk through all the details of what happened. Instead, EMDR accesses the emotional memory stored in the body and rewires how it’s held — reducing distress, shame, fear, or pain.
Miley Cyrus and EMDR: Speaking Out About Trauma Healing
Miley Cyrus has been candid about her mental health journey, particularly following the loss of her Malibu home in the 2018 Woolsey Fire — an experience she described as traumatic. In a 2020 interview on The Big Ticket podcast with Variety, she specifically said:
“EMDR is a kind of therapy that is the most beneficial to me, because it doesn’t feel like I’m just talking about it or trying to reason with it.”
She went on to say that EMDR helped her process emotions that were “trapped” in her body and nervous system.
By naming EMDR as her go-to modality, Miley has helped normalize trauma healing that goes beyond traditional talk therapy — especially for people who may struggle to verbalize what happened to them.
Prince Harry and the Rise of Trauma-Informed Therapy
Prince Harry has also spoken publicly about using EMDR to process the trauma of losing his mother, Princess Diana. In his AppleTV+ series The Me You Can’t See, he’s even shown participating in EMDR therapy on-screen. He’s said EMDR helped him with anxiety, panic attacks, and unresolved grief that lingered for years.
Other public figures, including Sandra Bullock, Taraji P. Henson, and Jameela Jamil, have shared their support of trauma-focused therapy like EMDR, helping bring somatic healing practices into the cultural conversation.
EMDR Isn’t Just for Celebrities — It’s for Anyone Carrying Pain
You don’t need to be a royal or a pop star to benefit from EMDR.
Many of us carry trauma that isn’t always obvious — emotional neglect, toxic relationships, narcissistic abuse, or growing up in a chaotic or critical home. These experiences shape how we show up in our lives, relationships, and bodies.
EMDR can help with:
- Feeling “triggered” or emotionally flooded in certain situations
- Chronic people-pleasing or fear of abandonment
- Self-sabotage and shame
- Persistent anxiety or panic
- Addictive behaviors rooted in trauma
Instead of endlessly talking about your past, EMDR allows you to move through it — sometimes faster and more deeply than traditional talk therapy.
Why EMDR Is Going Mainstream
The rise of EMDR reflects a broader shift in how we think about mental health. People are looking for deeper healing, not just symptom management. They want to feel different in their bodies, not just think differently about their problems.
Social media and streaming platforms have helped normalize therapy, especially when celebrities share their stories without shame. But EMDR is also gaining ground because it works — with over 30+ randomized controlled trials showing its effectiveness in trauma treatment.
As more people understand that trauma isn’t just war or violence — but anything that overwhelms your capacity to cope — EMDR is becoming a go-to modality.
Ready to Explore EMDR Therapy?
If you’ve been feeling stuck, anxious, or weighed down by old emotional patterns, EMDR might be the right path for you. Whether your trauma is “big” or “small,” it matters — and your healing matters too.
You don’t have to relive the past to release it. You just need the right support.
👉 Click here to learn more about how I can support you as a Certified EMDR Therapist.