What you were doing twenty years ago probably wasn't EMDR, as it's a more recent approach. People are having a lot of success with it for PTSD. Never had it myself, but I've never heard any horror stories, either. I've done a little hypnosis and it's been great, but it wasn't for PTSD and it was self-hypnosis, so I'm not sure how much my experience would make sense for you. All I can really tell you is that I think they're both safe techniques as long as they're being carried out by competent people. Ask questions and keep asking questions until you're comfortable. I'd ask questions about their training and experience with hypnosis and/or EMDR for example...if they're good, they won't mind answering as many questions as you pose to them.