EMDR and Performance: How Trauma Healing Can Unlock Your Potential

Performance, whether in sport, the arts, public speaking, or leadership, is often seen as

purely a matter of skill, practice, and mindset. But what if the biggest barrier to your best

performance isn’t a lack of ability… but unresolved emotional experiences from your past?

This is where Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can be a

powerful ally. While EMDR is best known as an evidence-based therapy for trauma, it can

also indirectly improve performance by helping you process past events that may be fuelling

anxiety, self-doubt, or freeze responses in high-pressure situations.

The Link Between Past Experiences and Present Performance

Many high-achieving professionals, athletes, and creatives experience performance blocks

that feel disproportionate to the situation at hand. For example:

• Stage fright that strikes even after years of experience.

• Choking under pressure despite hours of training.

• Excessive perfectionism leading to burnout.

• Avoidance of opportunities due to fear of criticism.

Often, these struggles are rooted in earlier experiences that felt shaming or humiliating,

moments when your nervous system learned to associate visibility or evaluation with

threat. These don’t have to be “big traumas” to have a lasting effect. Sometimes a harsh

comment from a coach, a public mistake at school, or a critical workplace review can plant a

seed of self-doubt that grows over time.

How EMDR Works

EMDR therapy helps reprocess these distressing memories so they no longer trigger the

same emotional or physical reactions in the present. It does this by using bilateral

stimulation, typically guided eye movements, tapping, or sounds, while you recall aspects of

the memory in a safe, therapeutic setting. This process helps the brain “file” the memory away in a more adaptive way, reducing its emotional charge. Over time, you may find:

• Performance situations no longer feel threatening.

• Your focus shifts from fear of failure to being present in the moment.

• Confidence and resilience naturally improve.

EMDR for Performance: Not a Shortcut, But a Foundation

It’s important to note that EMDR is not a performance coaching technique in itself, it’s a

therapy for processing past distress. However, when unresolved memories and beliefs are

addressed, you’re more likely to perform at your full capacity because you’re no longer

battling an invisible emotional weight. For example:

• A singer who once froze during an audition may no longer feel their chest tighten before stepping on stage.

• An athlete who crumbled under harsh criticism may regain their trust in their own abilities.

• A business leader may approach high-stakes presentations without the old spiral of anxiety.

Integrating EMDR with Performance Goals

For those looking to improve performance, EMDR can be part of a holistic approach that

includes:

• Skill-specific training (e.g., coaching, practice).

• Mindfulness and grounding techniques to stay present.

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for values-based action.

• Somatic awareness to recognise and release tension.

This integration ensures you’re building both the technical and emotional capacity to thrive.

Is EMDR Right for You?

If you notice patterns of anxiety, freeze responses, or self-sabotage when you’re under

pressure, EMDR may be worth exploring, particularly if those reactions feel tied to earlier

experiences. A trained EMDR therapist can help you identify relevant memories and guide

you through the reprocessing process safely and effectively.

Key Takeaway

Performance is more than just skill, it’s also about how your brain and body respond under

stress. By addressing the emotional roots of performance blocks through EMDR therapy,

you can free up mental and physical energy to focus on what matters most: showing up

fully, with clarity and confidence.

Interested in exploring EMDR for performance? At Mind The Way Psychotherapy and Counselling, we integrate EMDR with mindfulness-based and acceptance-focused approaches to support both emotional healing and personal growth.

Book a session today or contact us to learn more.