IEMT

What is IEMT

IEMT (Integral Eye Movement Therapy) is a gentle but powerful method that helps people change the way their brain processes painful emotions, memories, and repeating patterns of thought. Unlike traditional talk therapy, IEMT doesn’t require you to retell your story in detail or relive past trauma. Instead, it uses carefully guided eye movements to reduce the emotional intensity attached to certain experiences.

In simple terms: you still remember what happened, but the overwhelming emotional “charge” that keeps resurfacing begins to fade. The memory becomes just that — a memory — rather than something that continues to trigger you in the present.

How IEMT Works

When something upsetting happens, the brain often stores the memory and the emotional response together. This is why a smell, a sound, or a situation years later can suddenly bring back powerful feelings, almost as if the event is happening again.

IEMT works by guiding your eyes through specific movement patterns while you think about the memory or emotion. These eye movements stimulate areas of the brain involved in how memories and emotions are stored. Over time, this helps the brain to “uncouple” the memory from the old emotional reaction.

The memory itself remains intact, but the emotional intensity is reduced. In day-to-day life, this means you can recall what happened without being overwhelmed by it — creating space for new, healthier responses.

Scientific Support for IEMT

IEMT is a relatively new approach, so the scientific literature is still developing. However, it is closely related to EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing), which has been extensively researched and is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychiatric Association as an effective treatment for trauma and PTSD.

Research into EMDR shows that eye movement therapies can:

Reduce the intensity and vividness of distressing memories (Lee & Cuijpers, 2013).
Help reprocess traumatic experiences so they no longer trigger the same emotional responses (Shapiro, 2014).
Support improvements in anxiety, depression, and overall wellbeing.

IEMT builds on these principles, focusing specifically on what Andrew T. Austin (the creator of IEMT) calls “imprints of emotion” — the lasting emotional patterns linked to past events. While large-scale clinical trials are still underway, practitioner reports and case studies consistently show positive results for clients working with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and low self-worth.

What to Expect with IEMT

One of the unique benefits of IEMT is that it does not require you to go into detail about past events. Instead of talking through every aspect of a memory, you’ll simply notice the emotions or feelings that come up while following guided eye movements.

Most clients describe the experience as surprisingly calm and straightforward. Often, the distress linked to a memory decreases within the session itself. Over time, this leads to:

Distressing memories feeling less vivid or overwhelming.
A sense of relief from repeating emotional patterns.
More confidence and freedom in situations that used to trigger strong reactions.
Greater emotional resilience and ease in daily life.