How EMDR Is Helping High Performers Rewire Fear and Get Back in the Game

EMDR: The Trauma Therapy That Changed the Game

In the 1980s, psychologist Francine Shapiro discovered a technique called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Originally developed for treating PTSD in war veterans, it soon became clear that EMDR was doing something talk therapy wasn’t: it was working with the brain and body to rewire how memories and fears were processed.

Talk therapy was helping only around 30% of PTSD patients. EMDR, however, showed success rates of 70% or higher.

Why? Because it didn't just talk about the trauma. It changed the neural pathway associated with it.

Trauma-Informed Therapy for Performance

After a decade of using trauma therapy with PTSD clients, I began to notice similar symptoms in high-performing athletes and professionals: anxiety, panic, hypercritical self-talk, muscle memory failure.

So I started applying the same trauma-based interventions to performance issues.

The results? Nothing short of incredible.

Case Study: A Softball Pitcher with the Yips

One college softball player had seen eight different pitching coaches. Mechanics? Perfect. Practice? Hours in the cage. But in-game? As soon as a batter stood in, everything fell apart. Her muscle memory disappeared.

In four sessions of EMDR-based therapy, we created new neural pathways around her fear response. She was able to return to her flow state. The sympathetic nervous system was no longer hijacking her release.

Case Study: A Football Player with Concussion Fear

Another client, a football player, had been told one more concussion would end his career. Every time he went in for a tackle, he would freeze. The fear of injury kicked in right before impact, slowing him down—which ironically increased his injury risk.

We desensitized his fear using trauma therapy. He re-entered play without that panic moment. He was back in flow.

Can We Prepare for Future Failure?

Yes. In therapy, we can install future templates for performance. That means rehearsing not just success, but possible failure—without triggering the fear response. This builds resilience and helps the brain and nervous system respond with balance, not panic.

Whether it's a high performer facing a critical game, an executive needing to make a high-stakes decision, or a day trader trying to stick to their strategy, fear can hack your biology. But it doesn’t have to.

There is another way.

If This Resonates With You... You’re not broken. And you’re not alone. If you’re a high performer who’s tried coaching, talk therapy, and still feels stuck in fear or anxiety, trauma-informed therapy might be your next step.

Reach out at here or email info@chrisbruton.com. I would love to connect with you!