EMDR-PRECI for First Responders: Trauma Treatment That Actually Fits the Job
If you’re a first responder—fire, EMS, law enforcement, dispatch, ER nurse/doctor—you know the calls don’t wait for you to “process things later.” The tough moments stack up: the calls that stay with you, the ones you try not to think about, the ones you can’t forget. Most people don’t see what you see in a week, let alone a career.
And while resilience is practically built into your job description, you’re still human. Your brain and body are doing their best to handle a level of stress that was never meant to be carried alone.
That’s where EMDR-PRECI comes in.
What Is EMDR-PRECI?
EMDR-PRECI stands for EMDR Protocol for Recent Critical Incidents. It’s an adaptation of traditional EMDR designed specifically for people who have been exposed to acute, high-intensity, or on-the-job traumatic events—often in the very recent past.
Unlike traditional EMDR, which is typically used for long-term trauma, EMDR-PRECI is meant for:
Critical incidents that happened days, weeks, or months ago
Cumulative stress from repeated exposure
High-intensity memories that keep looping
Situations where symptoms are starting to interfere with work, sleep, or functioning
The goal isn’t to erase what happened. It’s to help your brain process the event so it stops feeling like it’s happening right now every time it gets triggered.
Why EMDR-PRECI Works So Well for First Responders
First responders often carry two types of trauma at the same time:
1. The Big One — the incident you can’t shake
Something about the call sticks: the scene, a sound, a moment you wish you could unsee. Even if you did everything “right,” your nervous system may still be stuck in that moment.
2. The Build-Up — the chronic stress that wears you down
Years of adrenaline, disrupted sleep, shifts that never really let you settle, the next call tone dropping just as you think you might get a break.
EMDR-PRECI meets both of these experiences with a protocol that’s:
Efficient — it gets to the core quickly
Structured — helpful when your brain is overwhelmed
Designed for acute trauma — meaning we don’t need months of prep
Flexible — it can be done in weekly therapy or intensive sessions
Most first responders appreciate that it’s practical, straightforward, and focused—it respects your time and your reality.
What EMDR-PRECI Feels Like in Session
You don’t have to tell your whole life story. You don’t have to go into every detail of the call. You don’t have to relive the trauma.
Instead, we track:
the part of the incident that still feels “hot”
the images or sensations that spike your nervous system, and
how your body responds when you think about it.
Through bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, etc.), the brain begins to reprocess the memory. Over time, the incident feels more like something that happened, not something that’s still happening to you.
Clients often describe feeling:
more grounded
less reactive
able to think about the call without a surge of adrenaline
more like themselves again
Why I Use This Protocol in My Practice
In my work with first responders I know you’re navigating things most people will never understand. EMDR-PRECI helps us support you quickly when a recent call is affecting your sleep, mood, relationships, appetite, or your ability to stay present on the job.
I also use this protocol in EMDR intensives, which can be especially helpful if you don’t have time for weekly therapy or need support right now, not months from now.
You carry enough already. You don’t have to add the weight of untreated trauma on top of it.
If You’re Feeling the Aftermath of a Recent Call
Whether the incident happened days or months ago, EMDR-PRECI can help your nervous system finish what it didn’t get to finish in the moment.
You deserve support that understands the demands of your work—and meets you where you are.
If you’re ready to talk through whether EMDR-PRECI might be a good fit, I’m here.
EMDR Therapy in Issaquah, WA | Serving Sammamish, Bellevue, North Bend & Snoqualmie
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