What happens in your brain when past experiences keep affecting your present life? Many people find themselves stuck with certain thoughts and feelings.

EMDR therapy works with two types of thoughts: positive and negative beliefs that shape how someone sees themselves.

The therapy helps clients move from unhelpful thoughts like I am not safe to more helpful ones, such as I can handle challenges now.

This post breaks down how EMDR works with these different thought patterns and what makes this method useful for mental health treatment.

EMDR Cognition and Its Types

In EMDR therapy, cognitions are people’s thoughts and beliefs about themselves. These beliefs come from memories of past events.

Every memory that bothers someone comes with specific thoughts attached to it.

The therapy looks at two main parts: what you think about yourself now when you recall a hard memory, and what you would prefer to think instead.

1. Positive Cognition

Positive cognitions in EMDR are helpful thoughts people want to believe about themselves. These thoughts help build self-trust and confidence.

They become the new way someone sees themselves after working through difficult memories.

Think of positive cognitions as true statements that feel good to believe. They’re not just nice words; they’re beliefs that can actually fit your life now.

When the therapy works well, these new thoughts start to feel real and true.

2. Negative Cognition

Negative cognitions are unhelpful beliefs formed from difficult life events. Often starting with “I am,” these thoughts shape a negative self-view and surface when recalling tough experiences.

Think of negative cognitions as the mean voice in your head that puts you down. These thoughts might make you feel small, weak, or not good enough.

When people come to EMDR therapy, they often carry these beliefs without knowing they can change them.

List of Positive and Negative Cognitions

Understand EMDR Negative Thoughts

Bad memories often come with negative thoughts that stick around. These thoughts follow a pattern in EMDR therapy.

They usually focus on what someone believes about themselves because of what happened to them.

When someone has been in a car crash, they might think, “I cannot keep myself safe.”

After a work mistake, they might believe, “I am not smart enough.” These thoughts appear every time they recall those events.

The key parts of these negative thoughts are:

• Feel completely true to the person
• Cause strong feelings when someone thinks about them
• Link directly to specific memories
• Affects how someone acts in their daily life

EMDR therapy helps spot these thoughts first. You need to know what thoughts bother you before you can work on changing them.

You can start moving toward better thoughts once you see these thoughts clearly.

How EMDR Helps in Healing Negative Cognitions

EMDR therapy uses side-to-side eye movements while you focus on memories and thoughts. This method helps your brain process old hurts in new ways.

Here’s how it works to heal negative thoughts:

Why Cognitions are Important for EMDR

Cognitions, or the way we think, play a central role in how well EMDR works, and here’s why they matter so much:

• Understanding Basics: Good thinking skills help you notice your feelings and thoughts better during EMDR. I find that focused clients get more from each session.
• Better Processing: Clear thinking lets people work through memories more effectively. Your mind stays on track instead of getting lost during therapy.
• Making Changes Last: Strong mental skills help maintain your progress in EMDR. It’s like building a strong house – the better the base, the longer it lasts.
• Improved Self-Awareness: Good thinking patterns help you notice your reactions during EMDR. I’ve seen how this self-knowledge makes therapy work better.
• Better Memory Access: A sharp mind helps you recall past events more easily. This makes each EMDR session more useful.
• EmotionalControl: Strong mental skills improve control over your feelings. This makes EMDR sessions feel safer for you.
• FasterProgress: Clear thinking helps you move through EMDR stages quickly. You can work through issues with less confusion.

Replacing Negative Cognitions with Positive Ones

The switch from negative to positive thoughts happens step by step in EMDR therapy. You start by focusing on one memory and the negative thoughts that go with it. Then, you pick a positive thought you want to believe instead.

Here’s the Replacement Process

In EMDR therapy, converting negative beliefs into positive ones is a key step in healing.

The process involves identifying current beliefs, selecting healthier alternatives, and using eye movements to reprocess traumatic memories.

• First, you notice what you believe now (“I am not safe”)
• Next, you choose what you want to believe (“I am safe now”)
• Then, through eye movements, you process the memory

During the Changes

As you work through the process of change, you actively assess how each thought impacts you. You enhance your healing progress by observing when old beliefs begin to weaken, and new ones grow stronger.

• You check how true each thought feels
• Notice when the old thought starts to fade
• Feel the new thought getting stronger

The Signs of Progress

As you continue reprocessing, the impact of old beliefs gradually lessens.

This shift allows new, healthier thoughts to take root, changing how you perceive memories and respond to everyday situations.

Each session builds on the last one

• Old thoughts feel less true
• New thoughts make more sense
• Your feelings about memories shift
• You respond to daily life differently

Small changes add up until the new positive thoughts feel natural and true. The old negative thoughts lose their grip, and you start seeing yourself in a better light.

Overcoming Challenges in Cognition Selection

Below are the certain challenges in Cognition Selection in detail:

• Pick the Right Level: Start with thoughts that feel manageable. It’s advisable to choose simple ideas first. Work up to harder ones as readiness increases.
• Stay Connected: Select thoughts that link to current concerns. Therapists help clients focus on what matters most right now. This makes the work more useful.
• Keep it Simple: Choose one clear thought at a time. Working with too many ideas can slow down progress. Focus should remain on what feels most important.
• Trust Your Gut: Listen to what feels true. There’s no wrong choice if it feels right to the individual. Personal feelings about a thought matter significantly.
• Stay Present: Pick thoughts that can be held onto during sessions. Simple, clear ideas work best. They help maintain focus throughout EMDR therapy.
• Be Patient: Take time to find the right thoughts. Rushing rarely helps the process. Good choices come when adequate time is given for reflection.

Conclusion

Positive and negative thoughts play a key role in EMDR success. Your mind needs clear thinking skills to make the most of each session.

When you choose the right thoughts to work with, healing becomes more effective.

Remember to start small with manageable thoughts. Take your time selecting ideas that connect to your current needs.

Ready to try EMDR? Talk with a trained therapist about your thought patterns. They can guide you in selecting helpful thoughts for your sessions.

Share your questions in the comments below, other readers might have similar concerns.