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Can animals sense emotional shifts during EMDR reprocessing?

In this video, Elena Engle, EMDRIA-approved EMDR Trainer and Consultant, shares an interesting pattern she has noticed both as a therapist and during her own EMDR sessions.

After completing her own EMDR session, Elena noticed something that has happened more than once. As soon as the positive belief was installed and her nervous system settled, her dog immediately came over with a burst of playful energy. The shift was noticeable in her body. Her breathing had deepened, her chest felt open, and the sense of activation had passed.

What stood out was the timing.

During reprocessing (phase 4), the dog had been doing his own thing. But right after the installation phase, when the nervous system moved into a calmer and more regulated state, he suddenly came over as if sensing the shift.

Interestingly, Elena has noticed similar moments during client sessions as well. Dogs sometimes jump up or become excited right after installation. Cats, on the other hand, often seem to observe quietly during reprocessing and then return once the emotional shift has occurred.

There’s no formal research being presented here, just a curious observation from clinical practice and personal experience. It raises an interesting question about attunement, co-regulation, and whether animals may be responding to subtle changes in nervous system state.

For EMDR therapists, moments like this can be fascinating reminders of how real and embodied reprocessing work is. Emotional shifts are not only cognitive. They often show up clearly in the body, in breathing patterns, posture, and overall nervous system regulation.

Have you ever noticed something similar in your EMDR sessions?

If you’re an EMDR therapist and have seen animals react during reprocessing, share your experience in the comments.