Phase 6: The Body Scan
This month’s blog post continues our deep dive into the specific phases of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily focuses on cognitive processing and spoken conversation, EMDR makes a distinct effort to include what is happening physically within the client. Our minds and bodies are deeply interconnected, meaning psychological distress often manifests as real physical sensations, tightness, or discomfort. Once a traumatic memory has been successfully desensitized and a selected positive belief genuinely feels true to the client, it is time to transition into Phase 6: The Body Scan.
As famously described by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk in his groundbreaking book, The Body Keeps the Score, trauma does not simply live as an abstract idea in our thoughts. Instead, it alters the central nervous system, brain, and physiological stress response. Because of this, the body scan serves as a crucial somatic bridge between psychological healing and true physical relief. Phase 6 is designed to ensure that the target memory is entirely resolved on every single level, leaving no lingering physical tension, hidden anxiety, or somatic distress behind.
What Happens During the Body Scan?
During this phase, your therapist will ask you to bring the original target memory back to your mind. At the exact same time, you will be asked to hold onto the positive belief that you integrated during the previous phase of treatment (such as "I am safe now" or "I did the best I could"). While keeping both the mental image of the event and the empowering new belief active in your awareness, you will be instructed to close your eyes or lower your gaze and mentally scan your entire body slowly from head to toe.
As you scan, your therapist will guide you to look for any subtle signs of physical discomfort, tight muscles, a racing heart, or anything else unusual. These internal sensations may show up as positive, negative, or completely neutral.
If you encounter an uncomfortable sensation or localized tension anywhere during the scan, the processing is not quite finished. Your therapist will simply reintroduce sets of bilateral stimulation—which may include guided eye movements, alternating in-ear audio tones, or gentle tactile tapping. This helps your nervous system finish processing the trapped physical energy. When you can comfortably bring the target memory to mind alongside your positive belief with zero physical discomfort, that specific target is officially considered fully processed.
Why the Body Scan is Essential
The body scan acts as an indispensable check in EMDR therapy. Intellectually, your logical mind might completely understand that a traumatic event happened a long time ago and can no longer hurt you. However, your body might not fully believe it yet. True healing requires aligning both the brain and the body. Taking the time to process until the body scan is completely clear helps move toward recovery.
FAQs
What is Phase 6 of EMDR called?
Phase 6 is officially called The Body Scan.
What is the main goal of Phase 6?
The goal is to identify and process any lingering physical tension or somatic distress associated with a traumatic memory after the emotional distress has been resolved.
How long does the body scan take?
It can take anywhere from a few minutes to an entire session. If no tension is found, it is very quick; if deep physical tension is uncovered, the therapist will use bilateral stimulation until the body feels completely neutral.
What if I don't feel anything during the body scan?
Feeling completely calm, relaxed, or neutral means the memory is successfully reprocessed and you are ready to move to Phase 7 (Closure).
What if I find physical tension during Phase 6?
Your therapist will reintroduce bilateral stimulation (like eye movements or tapping) while you focus directly on that physical sensation until it dissolves.
Can I fail the body scan?
No, there is no failing. Uncovering tension just means your body is doing its job by showing you where a piece of the trauma is still trapped so you can process it.
Why does my body hold trauma if my mind feels fine?
The brain's survival center (the amygdala) often stores trauma as physical sensations (like a racing heart or tight chest). Your logical mind might know you are safe, but your nervous system needs physical processing to catch up fully.
What happens after Phase 6 is complete?
Once your body is completely calm, your therapist will guide you into Phase 7 (Closure) to safely end the session and ensure you feel grounded before leaving.
References
Kaufman, S. (2021, August 13). The eight phases of EMDR therapy.
EMDR International Association. https://www.emdria.org/blog/the-eight-phases-of-emdr-therapy/
Shapiro, F. (2018). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy: Basic Principles, Protocols, and Procedures (3rd ed.). New York, NY: The Guilford Press
Van der Kolk, B. (2015). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Books.
Please remember that the information shared in this post is for educational purposes only and isn’t a substitute for professional mental health treatment.
