What Happened in My First IEMT Session

When I was a student at HMI College of Hypnotherapy, the school director emphasized how important it was for us, as hypnotherapists, to experience hypnosis ourselves, for both personal and professional growth.

Since becoming trained in Integral Eye Movement Therapy (IEMT) in 2024, I have seen its powerful effects firsthand. I knew a formal series of sessions would benefit me in much the same way that hypnosis had, in multiple aspects of my life.

When I began looking for an IEMT practitioner, I came across a blog post about anxiety and IEMT identity work. Nicola had written many posts on this subject, and her words deeply resonated with me. So much of what she described mirrored my own life experiences, it felt as though she was writing about me. I also noticed that she integrates hypnotherapy into her work and that she described her therapeutic style as warm and humorous, which I immediately appreciated.

I scheduled a free consultation with her and instantly connected with her personality. Although I was nervous, she listened carefully as I shared my struggles with difficult emotions and relationship challenges. Her warmth, understanding, and acceptance put me at ease right away. I even revealed something I usually find hard to explain (something embarrassing and complicated) and she responded with such positivity that I felt truly seen and understood.

After our consultation, Nicola sent me a series of questions to complete. Although I anticipated what they would be, I found them surprisingly difficult to answer. It was easy to list the emotions I frequently felt (sadness, anger, guilt) but harder to identify specific memories I wanted to address. Eventually, I created a list of negative memories I suspected were connected to my current challenges.

Before my first session, even though I was familiar with the protocol, I was extremely nervous. Session one took place after a weekend when many old hurts, mistakes, and regrets resurfaced. Within five minutes, I was in tears. We worked through several difficult memories and emotions in that session. As Nicola often says, “short-term pain, long-term gain.”

Afterward, I felt lighter and happier, though later that day I was completely exhausted. In the following weeks, however, my mood improved noticeably. I was more focused, productive at work, and able to make healthier choices.
Processing our regrets, painful experiences, and difficult emotions is never easy. IEMT provides a safe space for this, because it requires honesty with yourself rather than revealing every detail or “airing your dirty laundry.”

During my sessions, I only focused on a few painful memories and uncomfortable emotions for about 90 seconds at a time. One of the most remarkable aspects of IEMT is how quickly the intensity of a memory fades. Even my most challenging memories were significantly eased after just three sets of eye movements.

In our society, vulnerability is often seen as weakness, something that leaves us exposed and unsafe. As a result, we learn to hide our struggles and create coping mechanisms around them.

My journey with IEMT has taught me the opposite: vulnerability is where true strength lies. It has helped me become more powerful, resilient, and compassionate, with both myself and others.

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