EMDR & readiness
Can you do EMDR if you dissociate?
Dissociation does not create a simple yes-or-no answer about EMDR. A therapist needs to understand your experiences, current safety and support before deciding how to proceed. Preparation, pacing and the treatment setting matter. Online memory processing may not be the right next step for everyone.
Breaking Boulders Counseling · Published October 28, 2026
Feeling disconnected deserves attention—not blame
You might feel far away during a difficult conversation, notice that the room seems unreal, or have trouble staying connected to what is happening. Experiences like these are worth talking about. They do not, by themselves, establish a dissociative disorder.
If you worry that you will shut down in therapy, you can bring that worry to the first conversation. You do not need to hide it to seem ready for help. Describing what you notice gives a therapist useful information for planning care.
Readiness is an assessment, not a test you have to pass
EMDRIA’s screening guidance emphasizes that a questionnaire score alone is not enough to determine readiness for trauma reprocessing. A fuller assessment and understanding of the person’s needs are important. Dissociation calls for thoughtful clinical attention rather than a blanket promise that EMDR will—or will not—be suitable.
A therapist may ask about what feeling disconnected is like for you, your history, current stress, previous treatment and available support. Tell them about gaps in memory or difficulty staying oriented if those occur. The aim is to plan safely, not to pressure you into revealing every detail of trauma.
Preparation is part of the work
Memory processing is not the only part of EMDR therapy. Before it begins, you and your therapist can work on noticing distress, communicating when something is too much and finding ways to reconnect with the present. The amount and kind of preparation depend on your circumstances.
You can agree on a stop signal, discuss what a pause will look like and ask how sessions will end. If you feel overwhelmed or disconnected, say so. Continuing at all costs is not the goal. The therapist may change the pace, approach or care plan.
What changes when sessions are online?
Discuss privacy, your physical location, a dropped-call plan and support outside sessions. A quiet room and a reliable connection help, but they do not replace a clinical assessment of whether telehealth is appropriate. Some people need a different setting or level of support.
Questions to bring: How do you assess dissociation? What preparation might we need? How will we know when to pause? What would make you recommend in-person care? A consultation starts the conversation about fit; it is not a guarantee that online EMDR will be recommended.
A little clarity
Questions you might have
Does dissociation mean I cannot start therapy?
No. It is a reason to discuss your needs carefully. Starting an assessment or supportive work is different from beginning trauma memory processing.
Can I practice EMDR on my own to get ready?
This article does not provide a do-it-yourself EMDR protocol. Discuss preparation with a qualified therapist; coping skills and guided trauma processing are not interchangeable.
Sources & a note about this article
- EMDRIA: Beyond the DES-II—screening for dissociative disorders
- EMDRIA: EMDR therapy and dissociative identity disorder
This article was prepared for Breaking Boulders Counseling using the sources above. It is general educational information, not a diagnosis, medical advice or an individual treatment recommendation.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For suicide or mental health crisis support in the U.S., call or text 988.
Care that starts with a conversation
Learn about Aunastasia Zsidiewicz, LICSW, CADC I, EMDRIA Certified Therapist and her approach to care. Explore online EMDR therapy or substance use counseling.
The first session is $350; ongoing sessions are $300 per hour. Online care is available across Washington & Oregon State for ages 7 and older. We’ll talk through fit and any questions before you decide to begin.