There are many paths to healing.
Over the years, we’ve had countless conversations with clients trying to understand the difference between Rapid Eye Technology (RET) and EMDR or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Often, someone has heard of EMDR from a therapist or friend and wants to know:
“Is RET similar?”
The short answer is yes.
And also… not exactly.
Both RET and EMDR were developed from research surrounding rapid eye movements and the brain’s natural ability to process emotional experiences. Interestingly, the founders of both modalities—Francine Shapiro (EMDR) and Dr. Ranae Johnson (RET)—were contemporaries and shared overlapping research and understanding surrounding eye movements, neurological processing, and emotional healing. While the two approaches eventually evolved in different directions, they originated from many of the same foundational discoveries. Both approaches recognize that unresolved trauma, emotional pain, and limiting patterns can remain “active” in the nervous system long after an experience is over.
Both modalities have helped many people experience meaningful healing.
We know that there are many ways that Christ can bringing healing.
In scripture, healing rarely looked the same way twice.
Sometimes healing came through touch.
Sometimes through words.
Sometimes through mud and spit.
Sometimes simply through a faithful touch.
Healing has always been deeply personal.
Rapid Eye Technology is one path that has profoundly impacted our lives and the lives of many of our clients.
What Is EMDR?
EMDR is a structured clinical therapy primarily used for trauma and PTSD. It was developed by psychologist Francine Shapiro in the late 1980s and has become widely recognized in the mental health field.
EMDR uses bilateral stimulation—often eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones—while a client focuses on emotionally distressing memories. The goal is to help the brain reprocess unresolved experiences so they no longer carry the same emotional intensity.
Many people have found relief through EMDR within traditional therapeutic settings.
What Is Rapid Eye Technology (RET)?
Rapid Eye Technology was developed by Dr. Ranae Johnson and takes a more holistic approach to healing.
RET works with the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual systems together.
Like EMDR, RET uses rapid eye movements to help process unresolved emotional material. One practical difference is the range of eye movement patterns used. EMDR traditionally utilizes a smaller number of bilateral stimulation patterns, while RET incorporates approximately 30 different eye movement sequences designed to access and process information through multiple neurological pathways and sensory modalities. However, RET expands far beyond eye movements alone and includes breathing patterns, imagery, blinking techniques, energetic balancing, life skills training, and specific wand sequences designed to help the nervous system process more deeply and efficiently.
RET is not only focused on specific traumatic memories.
It also works with:
- subconscious patterns
- false beliefs
- emotional conditioning
- nervous system activation
- family patterns
- limiting perceptions
- energetic and spiritual imbalances
One of the ways we often describe RET is this:
Instead of needing to sort through every painful experience one piece at a time, RET often helps remove the “charge” underneath the entire pattern.
Like pulling the right thread and watching the whole knot begin to unravel.
One of the Biggest Differences: Reliving vs. Releasing
One of the reasons many people are drawn to RET is because they do not want to relive painful experiences in order to heal them.
Some people experience EMDR as deeply emotional and intense, especially between sessions as processing continues.
RET is designed to help release emotional patterns without requiring someone to fully relive or emotionally re-enter every traumatic experience. This is especially supportive for people whose nervous systems already feel overwhelmed, exhausted, hypervigilant, or emotionally flooded.
Healing does not always require re-experiencing pain at full intensity.
Sometimes the nervous system simply needs the opportunity to safely complete what never fully processed.
Why the Nervous System Matters
We understand that emotions are “energy in motion.”
They are information.
Not identity.
Not permanent truth.
Not something to fear.
Many of us were raised in environments where emotions were shut down:
“Stop crying.”
“Be strong.”
“Don’t overreact.”
Now the pendulum has swung the other direction, where many people feel they must fully analyze and sit in every emotion endlessly.
We believe there is a healthier middle ground.
Feel the emotion.
Honor the information.
Process it.
Learn from it.
Move through it.
RET helps calm the nervous system and reduce the emotional “charge” that keeps people repeating the same reactions over and over again.
Because often people are not consciously choosing the same painful patterns.
Their systems are simply running old programming.
Healing the Pattern, Not Just the Moment
One of the things we love most about RET is that it doesn’t stop at emotional release.
Healing is not only about removing pain.
It is also about learning new ways to live.
We combine RET with practical life skills because awareness without application rarely creates lasting change.
We teach people how to:
- recognize patterns
- shift perceptions
- take ownership without shame
- regulate the nervous system
- create healthier emotional responses
- develop healthier relationships with God, themselves, and others
Because if we continue thinking the same thoughts, practicing the same reactions, and believing the same stories… life often continues reproducing the same results.
RET helps “take the gas out of the system.”
Then we begin laying new tracks forward.
A Holistic Approach to Transformation
RET is often described as a whole-person healing modality because it works across multiple levels of experience:
- emotional
- mental
- physical
- spiritual
- energetic
It also includes intentional “closure” processes designed to help clients leave sessions feeling grounded, calm, and integrated rather than emotionally exposed or unfinished. RET places significant emphasis on helping the nervous system fully settle and integrate before the session is complete. Many clients describe this as one of the biggest differences they feel compared to other trauma-processing modalities. Rather than leaving emotional pathways highly activated or “open,” RET intentionally works toward helping the mind-body system feel complete, regulated, and supported before the client leaves the session.
For many clients, this creates a sense of safety and completeness within the healing experience.
So Which One Is Better?
That depends on the person.
Some people feel most comfortable in a traditional clinical setting and deeply benefit from EMDR.
Others are looking for a more holistic approach that integrates emotional healing, nervous system regulation, spiritual connection, and life skills together.
At Whole Happy Free, we don’t believe healing is one-size-fits-all.
We simply believe people deserve tools that help them move from survival… into peace, clarity, connection, and freedom.
For many people, RET becomes that bridge.
Whole → Happy → Free
Healing is not about becoming someone else.
It is about clearing what no longer aligns with truth so you can return to who you really are and live…
Whole.
Happy.
Free.
If you’re curious about the differences between EMDR and Rapid Eye Technology, or wondering whether RET may be a good fit for you personally, we would love to connect with you.
Our Clarity Call is a thoughtful, one-on-one conversation where we explore your experiences, your goals, and what type of support may best serve your healing journey.
With love and light,
Tonya
